In recent decades, the economic landscape of Spain has undergone significant changes, resulting in disparate impacts on different regions of the country. While some previously prosperous rural areas and small and medium-sized metropolitan areas are now facing job losses and slow income growth, large metropolitan areas have been more dynamic in terms of economic activity.
In addition to these economic shifts, demographic changes have also had varying effects on different regions. The average age of the population differs by almost a decade between some provinces, leading to increased disparities in inequality and well-being indicators when measured from a municipal perspective.
The Alternativas Foundation’s VI Report on Inequality in Spain provides detailed figures on these differences. According to the report, municipalities in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as those in the Basque Country and some in Galicia, have higher levels of well-being, measured through income, health, education, and labor market indicators. In contrast, most locations with lower values are found along the southern coast of Spain and the Canary Islands.
It is important to note that these differences do not always reflect an equal distribution of income. Inequality is much higher in large cities than in rural areas. For instance, Madrid stands out as one of the municipalities with high values for well-being indicators on the map of inequality in Spain. Other coastal regions such as those around Barcelona and some islands also exhibit high values for these indicators. On the other hand, most locations along the Cantabrian coast have lower values for these indicators compared to other regions.
These results raise questions about why there are such disparities between different regions of Spain. It is essential to understand how economic processes affect territorial differences at a local level. One key aspect is how companies’ location influences access to large markets
