Can Spain’s economy survive a Catalan secession?

Background

While for many years the Catalan region of Spain had obtained a degree of autonomy from the Madrid government, there have been calls by Catalan nationalists for further moves towards independence from Spain. This included a self-determination referendum that was held in 2014.

It was announced by the Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont on the 9 June 2017 that a Catalan independence referendum would be held on 1 October 2017.

For full information in ESO on the Catalan independence referendum, 1 October 2017 click here.

+ The days leading up to the referendum
+ The result and immediate aftermath of the referendum
+ The reaction in the EU Institutions to the referendum
+ Commentary features concerning the referendum
+ Declaration of independence, 10 October 2017
Information sources which discuss the potential and actual economic impact on the economies of Spain as a whole, and on the region of Catalonia, of the calls by the Catalan government and its supporters for independence and the holding of a referendum on the subject on the 1 October 2017.

Following the holding of the referendum El País, and other news sources, reported that some 30 businesses that were based in Barcelona had announced that they would move their legal headquarters elsewhere. The Catalan Government said that the move was largely a symbolic political gesture with very limited economic impact.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 24.07.17: Catalan independence movement hurts Spanish economy, companies claim http://p.dw.com/p/2h2AX

El País, 10.10.17: The companies that are leaving Catalonia https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/10/inenglish/1507620262_850506.html

El País, 12.10.17: [Opinion]: Who are the traitors in Catalonia? https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/12/inenglish/1507813929_268516.html

Catalan News, 15.10.17: An independent Catalonia would offer tax incentives to companies, says govt http://www.catalannews.com/business/item/an-independent-catalonia-would-offer-tax-incentives-to-companies-says-govt

The Conversation, 12.10.17: Catalonia, Spain and the economic consequences of a split https://theconversation.com/catalonia-spain-and-the-economic-consequences-of-a-split-85557

The Conversation, 25.10.17: How the Catalan economy benefited under Franco – and what this means for the ongoing stalemate https://theconversation.com/how-the-catalan-economy-benefited-under-franco-and-what-this-means-for-the-ongoing-stalemate-85943

El País, 24.10.17: The parallel reality of the Catalan economics chief https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/24/inenglish/1508843380_651207.html

El País, 24.10.17: Errors, falsehoods and half-truths about the economy of an independent Catalonia https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/24/inenglish/1508829623_178407.html

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