Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Barcelona Today
In 2014 Barcelona commemorated the 300th anniversary of the siege of the
city, a watershed event that henceforth placed Catalonia under the dominion of
Spain. Whether or not Catalonia will regain its independence, the region will
continue to chart its own course ahead - particularly in the realm of architec-
ture, sustainability and cuisine. Meanwhile as in other parts of Spain, the eco-
nomic crisis continues to have dire consequences, especially for those at the
lowest end of the socio-economic spectrum.
A Nation in Crisis
Spain's ongoing economic woes showed mild signs of improvement at the end of 2013 and
the beginning of 2014, with a projected annual growth rate of 1.2% for the year. This was
some small relief for a country that had been mostly in recession since the Global Financial
Crisis erupted in 2007. Like many other Spaniards, Catalans have yet to break out the cava.
Unemployment remains startlingly high, particularly among young workers (above 40% for
those under the age of 25). Meanwhile hardship measures prescribed by bureaucrats - slash-
ing budgets, raising taxes and freezing public sector pay - have done nothing to alleviate the
hardship for those struggling to pay their bills.
Last year nearly 16,000 Catalans were evicted from their homes according to figures from
the General Council of the Judiciary. Homeowners, unable to meet their mortgage payments,
have seen their worlds upended as banks seize their properties. Protests against these evic-
tions have grown in recent years, as
barcelonins
and other Spaniards have taken to the streets
in outrage against the austerity measures.
Secondhand stores are one of the few businesses that are doing well. In an era of growing
joblessness and tightened purse strings, more and more Catalans are taking to buying and
selling used goods. Even Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona's most upscale shopping street, now
has a few secondhand stores.
A Bid for Independence
Spain's ongoing financial turmoil has been a catalyst for independence. Ever since the days of
Franco - when Catalan was banned in schools and in the media - Catalonia has felt stymied
by the sometimes heavy-handed policies of the central government. These days anger re-
volves around the topic of taxation. Catalonia's economy, one of the best performing in the
