This book analyses the economic consequences of the regional government of Catalonia's challenge to democracy and the rule of law in Spain. This process, started in 2010, culminated in a coup d'état in the autumn of 2017. The book has three parts. First: The circumstances behind the challenge: economic structure, social and political aspects. Second: The economic impacts of the resulting huge political instability and social polarisation, and the downturn in GDP, investment, competitiveness, Barcelona's appeal, and flight of companies and banks to Madrid. Third: Independence would mean collapse of trade with the rest of Spain and the EU, expulsion from the eurozone, fall of GDP, plummeting tax revenue, soaring unemployment and, finally, conversion of this hypothetical new Catalonia into a failed, vassal and totalitarian state.
Author(s): Brunet, Ferran
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Year: 2022
Language: English
Commentary: Politics, catalan separatism, economic consequences of the political instability caused
Pages: 339
Tags: Politics, catalan separatism, economic consequences of the political instability caused
Foreword
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Introduction
Part I: Defying the Rule of Law and Democracy
CHAPTER 2: Contemporary Spain: Democratic and Decentralised
Modern Democratic Spain
Development of Spanish Democracy
Summary
Chapter 3: The Process Robs Us, Not Madrid
Nature of the Separatist Challenge
The Process Robs Us!
Summary
Chapter 4: The Rebellion and the Separatist Coup
2017 Separatist Coup d’état
Consequences of the 2017 Coup d’état
After the Coup
Summary
Chapter 5: Geographical Dimension and Historical Perspective of Catalonia
Extent of Catalonia
Industrialisation and the Spanish Market
Dynamics of the Population and GDP
Summary
Chapter 6: Degree of Decentralisation in Spain and Powers of the Autonomous Communities
High Level of Decentralisation
Comparison with Germany
Dynamics of the Autonomous Communities
Validity of the Rule of Law
Summary
Chapter 7: Urban and Rural Catalonia
The Districts
Tabarnia
Summary
Chapter 8: Catalonia, Spain, Europe and the World: The Multilevel Governance System
The Place in the Regions of Europe
Globalisation, Integration and Regionalisation
The European Union and Separatism
Economic Analysis of Disintegration
The Secession of States
A Hypothetical Secession of Catalonia from the EU
Summary
Chapter 9: Integration and Disintegration: Secession of the European Regions?
The European Mosaic
Regions with Separatist Movements
Summary
Chapter 10: Challenge, Labyrinth, Mirage, Enigma, Ghost, Fantasy, Illusion, Utopia, Nonsense, Madness, Stagnation, Malaise, Fever, Cancer, Lawsuit, Accident, Slip, Catastrophe, Crisis, Bonfire, Soufflé, Misfortune, Tragedy, Drama, Comedy, Farce, Trap, Twe
Analysis of the Catalan Question
The Nature of Catalan Separatism
Social Engineering and Psychosociology
Separatist Regime and Pensée Unique
Summary
Chapter 11: The Separatist Regime: Propaganda, Neo-Language, Post-Truth, Alternative Facts, Fake News, Disinformation, Social Networks, Populism and Falsification of the Past, Present and Future
Regime and Propaganda
The Independence Movement’s Narrative
Referendum
Summary
Chapter 12: Language and Indoctrination in the Schoolroom
Education, Not in the Mother Tongue, Only in Catalan
Fines for Shops Whose Signage Is Not in Catalan
Summary
Chapter 13: Structure of the Separatist Narrative
The Separatist Argument
The Separatist Cycle
Summary
Chapter 14: Spain, from a Model Transition to Democracy to Failed State?
Spanish Democracy
Acute Confrontation
Summary
Chapter 15: Values and Qualities of Spain
Position in International Rankings
Summary
Chapter 16: Corruption, Embezzlement, Profligacy and the Bad Government of the Separatist Generalitat
Corruption
Embezzlement
The Cost of Bad Government
Summary
Chapter 17: Surveys on Separatism
The Wished-for Catalonia
Young People Are Less Separatist
Separatism Is Something for Rich People: The Richer, the More Separatist
Language and Being Catalan and/or Spanish
Bilingualism
Summary
Chapter 18: Separatism and Economic Crisis
Catalonia’s Image
Relations Between Spaniards
Unemployment and Separatism
Summary
Chapter 19: Constitutionalist and Separatist Votes and Deputies
Separatist Regional Government
Minority of Votes and Majority of Seats
The Key to the Autonomous Elections Is the Level of Participation, and Its Reverse, the Abstention of the Constitutionalists
Dynamics of Participation
Gap Between Votes and Seats
Vote and Preferred Language
Vote and Standard of Living
Non-proportional Electoral Law
Constitutionalist and Separatist Political Space
Secessionist Rallies
Summary
Chapter 20: Hate and Separatist Violence, or Common Sense and Harmony
Secessionist Violence
Barcelona Burns
From Violence to Terror
Summary
Chapter 21: Quality of Democracy in Catalonia
The Catalan Separatist Regime
A Rebel Regional Government with Impunity
Summary
Part II: Decline
Chapter 22: The Cost of the Separatist Challenge
The Cost of Separatism
The Long-Lasting Nature of the Separatist Challenge
The Accumulated Costs of Non-Intervention by the Spanish State
Summary
Chapter 23: Dynamics of Catalonia’s GDP under the Process
GDP Gap Due to the Process: −4.6%
Gap in GDP Between Catalonia and Madrid: −11.2%
Summary
Chapter 24: Collapse of the Competitiveness of Catalonia
In Our Global World, the Quality of the Institutions Is the Key Element of Competitiveness
Summary
Chapter 25: The Fall in the Attractiveness of Barcelona
The Barcelona Brand
Impact of the Separatist Challenge on the Spain Brand
Summary
Chapter 26: Regulatory and Fiscal Hell
Doing Business in Spain: The Hotchpotch of Regional Regulation
Catalonia, a Regulatory Hell
Catalonia, a Fiscal Hell
Quality of Government and Social Progress
Summary
Chapter 27: Demographics, Immigration, Housing and Offices
Catalonia, a Declining People
Housing and Offices
Summary
Chapter 28: Barcelona and Madrid
Competition Between Barcelona and Madrid
Barcelona and Madrid Compared
Summary
Chapter 29: Catalonia’s Trade with the Rest of Spain
Catalonia’s External Balances
Specialisation of Catalonia
Summary
Chapter 30: The Fiscal Balances: Accounts and Tales
Ground Zero of the Separatist ‘Economy’
The Calculation of the Fiscal Balance
Interterritorial Solidarity
Summary
Chapter 31: Social Security and Pensions
Catalonia’s Large Pension Deficit
Summary
Chapter 32: Flight of Companies, Capital and Bank Deposits
Goodbye Catalonia!
Hello Madrid!
Banks, Deposits and Credit in Times of Revolution
Summary
Chapter 33: Collapse of Foreign Investment
Flight of Foreign Investment
Summary
Chapter 34: Boycott of Catalan Goods and Services
The Boycott of the Goods and Services of Companies Resident in Catalonia Reaches 23%
Plummeting Tourism
Summary
Chapter 35: The Budgets of the Separatist Generalitat
Uncontrolled Budget
The Antisocial Character of the Separatist Generalitat
Public Investment in Catalonia
Summary
Chapter 36: Economic Policy of the Separatist Generalitat
Financial Fantasies
Generalitat Ratings, Risk Premium, Bankruptcy and Bailout
Economic Policy of the Separatist Generalitat
Cronyism, Sectarianism and Misgovernment
Summary
Chapter 37: The Cost of ‘Not Spain’
The Value of Market Unity
The Single Spanish Market
Summary
Chapter 38: The Decline of Catalonia
Steep and Lasting Decline
Summary
Part III: False Paradise
Chapter 39: Economic Consequences of a Hypothetical Secession
Impact of Separation
Ten Consequences
Summary
Chapter 40: Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on Trade
Changes to Trade in Industrial Goods with the Rest of Spain, Europe and the World
Changes to Trade in Non-industrial Goods with the Rest of Spain, Europe and the World
Summary
Chapter 41: Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on GDP
From Trade to GDP
Comparative Analysis
Summary
Chapter 42: Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on Employment, Pensions, Health and Education, and on the Deficit and Debt
Impact on Employment
Impact on Pensions, Education and Health
The Separatist Generalitat’s Finances
Summary
Chapter 43: Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on the Financial System and on Spain
End of the Euro, Measures to Protect the Banks and Pujoletes
Hyperinflation and Fall in the Value of Salaries, Rents and Properties
Impact on Spain of a Hypothetical Secession of Catalonia
Summary
Chapter 44: Brexit and Catexit
Catexit > Brexit
Political Implications of Brexit
Summary
Chapter 45: Fantasising About the ‘Viability’ of an ‘Independent’ ‘Catalonia’
Fantasies
Complete Unviability of an ‘Independent’ Catalonia
Financial Fantasy
Summary
Chapter 46: From Tyrannical Mini-State to Dictatorial and Imperialist Vassal State
A Hypothetical ‘Independent’ Catalonia
Summary
Chapter 47: The ‘Industry’ of the Separatist Process: The ‘Business’ of Independence Is in the Separatist Challenge, Not in Independence Itself
The Separatist Process Is an Industry
Summary
Chapter 48: Who—What—When—Where—Why—How on Catalan Secessionism?
Quis, quid, quando…
Successes and Failures of the Separatist Challenge
Permanent Challenge: Wearing Catalonia and Spain Down
Summary
Chapter 49: Overcoming Catalan Separatism
Specific Aspects of the Catalan Case
Administration of the Generalitat by the Government of Spain
Constitutional Spain
Summary
Chapter 50: As a Recap: Ten Questions and Answers About a Hypothetical Separation of Catalonia from the Rest of Spain
Epilogue
References
References [from 272 footnotes]
Index
