The Economy of Catalonia

– Slightly less than half the economists think that, if Catalonia were a
State, the investments of multinational companies would remain
the same, but about 70% think that those relating to the rest of
Spain would reduce. Investments by Catalan companies would either
remain stable or increase.
– Almost 60% of members believe that the process of creating a Catalan
State would not cause the breakdown of social cohesion in Catalonia.
– Most economists believe that the existence of a Catalan State would
affect pensions, either positively (37.0%) or negatively (25.2%).
– Slightly over half the members consider that the establishment of a
Catalan State may have an impact on their area of professional activity,
either positively (29.0%) or negatively (25.8%).
– With regard to the different groups, those most in favour of everything
concerning a Catalan State (formation, feasibility, fitting into
Europe, economic and social impact...) are the employees, those
located in the province of Girona and, logically, those who favour
an independent State. On the other hand, the most critical are the
business people and/or the self-employed, those located in Barcelona,
the supporters of increasing the degree of centralisation of the
Spanish government and of maintaining the current organisation of
the State of Autonomous Regions. It is worth noting that the opinions
of the groups committed to maintaining the State of Autonomous
Regions with a Fiscal Pact similar to that of the Basque
Country and those in favour of a federal model in relation to Spain
differ depending on the issues.
Impact of an independent Catalonia: the economists’ view 221