Employment, Population, Industry And Economic Development In Europe: A Comparative Analysis Of Spain With Germany, France, Italy And Great Britain For 1960-2010 And Perspectives For 2011-2020

This comparative analysis of employment and economic development of Spain with Germany, France, Italy and Britain is addressed to analyze the causes that explain the lower levels of real income, wages and employment rates in Spain in comparison with those countries, and recommend economic policies that can be more favourable to reduce the high unemployment rate in Spain and advance real converxence towards the levels of economic and social development of more developed countries. In our view the attempt experienced in Spain in the period 2000-2007, to promote the development of construction and services without sufficient development of the industrial base, has resulted, among other imbalances, in a significant increase in foreign trade balance deficit and in external debt level difficult to sustain. We analyze the prospects for economic development and employment in Spain for 2011-2020 defending a positive development approach versus passive policies of adjustment. A certain degree of adjustment is necessary but will be insufficient if not accompanied by active development policies that take into account the positive impact of industry on growth and employment in construction and services sectors. We also analyze the evolution of employment and economic development of Spain and major European economies compared with the United States.