Spain’s Industrial and Demographic Landscape: An In-Depth Analysis
Industrial Problems in Spain
Spain holds the 5th position of industrial importance within the EU, situated between the four most prominent industrial states and the rest. However, while in most developed states the industrial turnover surpasses the population percentage, the opposite occurs in Spain. This indicates a medium degree of industrialization and relatively low productivity in the industrial sector.
Comparison of Map, Table, and Statistics
The map illustrates the participation of autonomous communities in the national GDP rating for 2007, while the statistical table reveals the GDP per capita differences between regions. The map highlights five autonomous communities—Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Galicia, and Valencia—as the most significant contributors to the GDP. The table demonstrates substantial disparities in GDP per capita among these regions. Notably, Andalusia exhibits a high GDP, but its per capita GDP is considerably lower.
Two Basic Models of Financing
Common System
This financing system applies to most autonomous communities. Under this system, regions receive resources from the central administration through two primary channels: tax and non-tax revenue. Tax revenue originates from taxes ceded to the autonomous authorities, whereas non-tax revenue is received from the state and is not contingent on any specific tax.
Autonomous Regime
This system is exclusive to Navarra and the Basque Country, designated as historical territories. In accordance with the First Additional Provision of the Constitution, the current status of the Basque Country and the Organic Law of Reintegration and Improvement of the autonomous system of Navarra establish that economic relations between the central state and these territories are governed by the Economic Agreement. Under this agreement, each administration of the statutory territories controls, collects, and manages most state taxes and contributes to the state’s overhead through a share of the collected funds.
Two Mechanisms for Redistribution of State Resources
For communities under the common system, there is a fund called the Sufficiency Fund, which serves as a closing mechanism for the financing system. The constitution provides for the creation of an Inter-territorial Compensation Fund (FCI) to correct imbalances and ensure the principle of solidarity. Land redistribution is always complex and presents significant shortcomings. The Balearic Islands and Andalusia, in particular, along with Valencia and Madrid, endure substantial fiscal deficits. In contrast, autonomous communities under the autonomous regime, despite having a very high income level, contribute minimally to inter-territorial solidarity.
Evolution of Spanish Population Growth
In the 18th century, the Spanish population began a phase of continuous growth that persists to this day. The population increase in Spain between 1830 and 1960 is attributed to a shift in vegetative growth patterns. This shift transitioned from weak growth, characterized by high mortality rates, to robust growth, marked by the disappearance of catastrophic mortalities, reduced infant mortality, and sustained high birth rates.
Distribution of Population Growth
A distinctive feature of the Spanish population has been its concentration in coastal areas. Since 1900, the following provinces have not experienced population growth: Lugo, Orense, Zamora, Palencia, Ávila, Segovia, Soria, Huesca, and Teruel Basin. Currently, only a quarter of the population resides in the Central Highlands.
Territorial Areas of Higher and Lower Population Density
Spain exhibits five territorial spaces with high or very high population density:
- The Mediterranean facade of the Peninsula, including the islands. This is the largest space with the highest concentration of population.
- The western Andalusian provinces of Seville, Cadiz, and Malaga.
- Madrid, including its metropolitan area.
- The Atlantic and Cantabrian coastline, with areas of low density between Lugo and Asturias.
- The Canary Islands.
The current population trend is the strengthening of these territorial spaces, except for the Cantabrian coastline, which shows weak growth.
Climate Change Between 1960 and 1975
The current distribution of the Spanish population is the result of two significant population movements:
- A long-term change, steady for over three hundred years, leading to the depopulation of the interior of the peninsula and an increase in pre-coastal and coastal areas.
- A short-term, intense change between 1960 and 1975, causing major population movements within Spain as a result of economic development.
Characteristics of Current Growth
The current vegetative growth in Spain is characterized by its weakness. The causes of this weak growth are rooted in the general European population dynamics shared by all developed countries:
- Low birth rate caused by the delay of childbearing in women, which, in turn, reduces the number of children per couple.
- Low fertility, reaching an average of 2.1 children per woman, which is the minimum necessary to maintain a stable population.
Distribution of Current Demographic Dynamics in Historical Context
Since 1982, Spain’s synthetic fertility index has been below the reproduction threshold, reaching its lowest level in 1996. Since then, the index has slowly increased, reaching 1.38 in 2007. Population growth varies across different provinces of Castile. The Mediterranean coastal zone experiences a higher percentage increase.
Migration Balance from the 19th Century to 1975
From the 19th century until 1975, Spain was a country of emigration. Until 1960, most emigrants were directed towards America. Between 1960 and 1975, Spanish emigration shifted towards developed countries in Europe due to the economic crisis in American countries.
Net Migration Change in Spain and its Reasons
Since the late 20th century, Spain has become a recipient of immigrants. The causes include the demand for labor due to the positive developments in the Spanish economy between 1995 and 2007 and the demographic vacuum caused by the drop in birth rates. The main points of origin for immigration are:
- South American countries (30% of the total)
- Eastern European countries (21% of the total)
- Developed EU countries
- Morocco (11% of the total)
A special feature of the immigration process in Spain is its rapid pace. While developed European countries have seen significant immigration over the last 50 years, Spain managed to equalize and exceed the percentage of immigrant population in these countries in just 15 years.
Immigrant Population Distribution
In 2008, 5.2 million immigrants resided in Spain. This population is primarily concentrated along the Mediterranean coast, on the islands, and in the Madrid area. In contrast, the percentages are lower in the northern and western regions of Spain, from Andalusia to the western Cantabrian coast.
Demographic Effects of Immigration on Population Structure
Immigration has contributed to a rise in the birth rate and overall growth in Spain. It has also led to a rejuvenation of the population, as most immigrants are between 20 and 40 years old.
Analysis of the Population Pyramid
The statistical table highlights the ongoing aging process of the Spanish population since 1960. Notably, there was a significant increase in the aging index between 1981 and 2001 due to high birth rates and a decrease in female fertility. The age pyramid of 2007 illustrates this rapid aging. The 30-34 age group shows a gradual decrease, accelerating thereafter. There is only a slight increase in the 0-9 age range, thanks to the slight recovery of fertility and the demographic contribution of immigration.
Main Axes of Communication
The Spanish urban system is integrated into the Western European urban system and is connected through two main axes of communication:
- The Mediterranean axis, connecting through Barcelona, Lyon, and Marseille.
- The Atlantic axis, connecting through Bilbao and Bordeaux.
Major Metropolitan Areas
The areas of Madrid and Barcelona are categorized as European metropolitan areas. State-level metropolitan areas include Valencia and Seville, along with Bilbao, Malaga, and Zaragoza. Regional metropolitan areas are La Coruña, Vigo, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Valladolid, Alicante-Elche, Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Murcia, Granada, Bay of Cadiz, Cordoba, Pamplona, San Sebastián, Santander-Torrelavega, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Tarragona-Reus. Medium-sized cities are provincial capitals, while smaller towns are those with smaller provincial and regional capitals.
Structure of the Spanish Urban System
- Mediterranean: Barcelona, Valencia
- Central: Madrid, Valladolid
- South: Seville, Malaga
- Cantabrian: Bilbao, Santander
- Atlantic: Vigo, La Coruña
- Canary: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Characteristics of the Spanish Urban System
The current urban system has its origins in the economic development, industrialization, and population movements that occurred between 1960 and 1975. The vast majority of the population left rural areas and concentrated in urban centers. This urban growth has benefited the most important cities and their surrounding urban environments, as well as provincial and county capitals that absorbed emigration from rural areas.
Internal Transformations in the Urban Structure
Urban transformation in the last 50 years has had three main consequences:
- The consolidation of certain territorial areas where population and economic activities tend to concentrate. The growth of metropolitan areas and their communication axes have contributed to the configuration of these axes.
- Strengthening the role of the seven major metropolitan areas as the primary resources of the urban network.
- The leadership of the Spanish urban system, represented by the metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona.
Predominant Economic Activity Sector
Tertiary activities occupy a significant portion of the urban population in Spanish cities, with central cities acting as service providers for their metropolitan area, province, or region. Cities offer a variety of services, with more specialized or higher-quality services found in the most important cities. Many cities serve as commercial, cultural, and educational centers.
Spatial Segregation
Within cities, there are significant differences in the economic and social conditions of inhabitants, leading to pockets of poverty. This can result in the separation of the population into different areas based on their economic capacity, cultural background, or ethnicity, a phenomenon known as spatial segregation. In the core areas of cities, it is unlikely that those with higher purchasing power will remain, as buildings are older and may be degraded. If public authorities do not intervene, urban centers can become consolidated areas of older, native populations and poorer, newly arrived immigrants.