The Modern Spanish Economy. Transformation and Integration into Europe.

Spain has undergone enormous political and economic change in recent years; transition from dictatorship to democracy, centralism to regionalism, liberalization of the economy and membership to the European Community. With the approach of the single European market, Spain has emerged as an important member of the European Community. However, there has been relatively little written on the structure of the Spanish economy. This volume provides an analysis of Spain's development from an economy of isolation, protection and regulation to one which is open, international and liberal. The author places the structures of Spain's contemporary economy in an historical perspective. He then traces Spain's development from the liberalization of the mid nineteenth century, the protectionism of the early twentieth century, Franco's autarchy and "economic miracle" to the economic crisis in the 1970s and the solutions that have been sought in the 1980s both as a response to the crisis and as a consequence of EC membership. The sector by sector analysis places the current economic policies in context, and the implications of restructuring for regional policy are discussed. The author concludes with reflections on possible future development.