The Economics of Catalan Separatism

This book analyses the economic consequences of the regional government of Catalonia's challenge to democracy and the rule of law in Spain. This process, started in 2010, culminated in a coup d'état in the autumn of 2017. The book has three parts. First: The circumstances behind the challenge: economic structure, social and political aspects. Second: The economic impacts of the resulting huge political instability and social polarisation, and the downturn in GDP, investment, competitiveness, Barcelona's appeal, and flight of companies and banks to Madrid. Third: Independence would mean collapse of trade with the rest of Spain and the EU, expulsion from the eurozone, fall of GDP, plummeting tax revenue, soaring unemployment and, finally, conversion of this hypothetical new Catalonia into a failed, vassal and totalitarian state. This book is destined to be the foremost work of reference on the consequences of the separatist threat to Spain, including Catalonia's current decline.

Includes a comparative analysis of how the performance of the Catalan economy differs from the region of Madrid Contextualizes the Catalan independence movement within the broader history of the region and of Spain Examines the governance challenges posed by Catalan independence

Auteur
Ferran Brunet is professor of applied economics at the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona. His teaching and research are mainly on European economics, a subject on which he has written widely, having published numerous works and articles on European imbalances, economic governance, and competitiveness. In this book he analyses the economic consequences of the political instability caused by Catalan separatism.

Contenu
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Contemporary Spain: Democratic and Decentralised.- Chapter 3. The Process Robs Us, Not Madrid.- Chapter 4. The Rebellion and the Separatist Coup.- Chapter 5. Geographical Dimension and Historical Perspective of Catalonia.- Chapter 6. Degree of Decentralisation in Spain and the Powers of the Autonomous Communities.- Chapter 7. Urban and Rural Catalonia.- Chapter 8. Catalonia, Spain, Europe and the World: The Multilevel Governance System.- Chapter 9. Integration and Disintegration: Secession of the European Regions?.- Chapter 10. Challenge, Labyrinth, Mirage, Enigma, Ghost, Fantasy, Illusion, Utopia, Nonsense, Madness, Stagnation, Malaise, Fever, Cancer, Lawsuit, Accident, Slip, Catastrophe, Crisis, Bonfire, Soufflé, Misfortune, Tragedy, Drama, Comedy, Farce, Trap, Twenty-first Century or Postmodern or Liquid Coup d'état, Revolt, Rebellion, Adventure, Problem, Question, Syndrome (Separatist) Coup.- Chapter 11. The Separatist Regime: Propaganda, Neo-Language, Post-Truth, Alternative Facts, Fake News, Disinformation, Social Networks, Populism and Falsification of the Past, Present and Future.- Chapter 12. Language and Indoctrination in the Schoolroom.- Chapter 13. Structure of the Separatist Narrative.- Chapter 14. Spain, from a Model Transition to Democracy to Failed State?.- Chapter 15. Values and Qualities of Spain.- Chapter 16. Corruption, Embezzlement, Profligacy and the Bad Government of the Separatist Generalitat.- Chapter 17. Surveys on Separatism.- Chapter 18. Separatism and Economic Crisis.- Chapter 19. Constitutionalist and Separatist Votes and Deputies.- Chapter 20. Hate and Separatist Violence, or Common Sense and Harmony.- Chapter 21. Quality of Democracy in Catalonia.- Chapter 22. The Cost of the Separatist Challenge.- Chapter 23. Dynamics of Catalonia's GDP under the Process.- Chapter 24. Collapse of the Competitiveness of Catalonia.- Chapter 25. The Fall in the Attractiveness of Barcelona.- Chapter 26. Regulatory and Fiscal Hell.- Chapter 27. Regulatory and Fiscal Hell.- Chapter 28. Barcelona and Madrid.- Chapter 29. Catalonia's Trade with the Rest of Spain.- Chapter 30. The Fiscal Balances: Accounts and Tales.- Chapter 31. Social Security and Pensions.- Chapter 32. Flight of Companies, Capital and Bank Deposits.- Chapter 33. Collapse of Foreign Investment.- Chapter 34. Boycott of Catalan Goods and Services.- Chapter 35. The Budgets of the Separatist Generalita.- Chapter 36. Economic Policy of the Separatist Generalitat.- Chapter 37. The Cost of 'Not Spain'.- Chapter 38. The Decline of Catalonia.- Chapter 39. Economic Consequences of a Hypothetical Secession.- Chapter 40. Impact of a Hypothetical Secession onTrade.- Chapter 41. Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on GDP.- Chapter 42. Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on Employment, Pensions, Health and Education, and on the Deficit and Debt.- Chapter 43. Impact of a Hypothetical Secession on the Financial System and on Spain.- Chapter 44. Brexit and Catexit.- Chapter 45. Fantasising About the 'Viability' of an 'Independent' 'Catalonia'.- Chapter 46. From Tyrannical Mini-State to Dictatorial and Imperialist Vassal State.- Chapter 47. The 'Industry' of the Separatist Process: The 'Business' of Independence Is in the Separatist Challenge, Not in Independence Itself.- Chapter 48. WhoWhatWhenWhereWhyHow on Catalan Secessionism?.- Chapter 49. Overcoming Catalan Separatism.- Chapter 50. As a Recap: Ten Questions and Answers About a Hypothetical Separation of Catalonia from the Rest of Spain./ <p