Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Camp Nou stadium Click here , Barcelona
KRZYSZTOF DYDYNSKI
Boom & Bust
Spain was, not so long ago, the poster-child for a prosperous Europe. Its booming
economy was a source of great pride to Spaniards who for decades had been play-
ing catch-up with the rest of Europe. And then came the fall. The economy sud-
denly shrank alarmingly in 2008 and unemployment has soared from around 6% to
close to 20%. The country's reliance on two industries vulnerable to economic
downturns - construction (16% of GDP) and tourism (5%) - suggests that the coun-
try's economy will continue to be the single most important challenge facing Spain
for some years to come.
Remaking Spain
Spain's Socialist government, which came to power in 2004 and was re-elected in
2008, has been responsible for nothing less than a social revolution. Its raft of re-
forming legislation has made this once-staunchly Catholic country one of Europe's
most liberal. Gay marriage was legalised, divorce and abortion laws were liberal-
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