Spain's economy has continued to grow strongly, reflecting its improved fundamentals. However, especially the young generation still faces daunting economic challenges. In the meantime, several downside risks are clouding the medium-term outlook. Externally, they comprise sudden changes in...

This Selected Issues paper on Spain focuses on differences in regional productivity. Recent studies of income convergence among Spanish regions suggest that the convergence has been slow since 1980 reflecting persistent regional disparities in total factor productivity. The empirical...

This 2016 Article IV Consultation highlights that Spain's economy has continued its recovery. Real GDP expanded by 3.2 percent in 2015 with the same growth rate expected for 2016, despite a prolonged period of domestic political uncertainty. Nearly 1.1 million jobs were created over the past two...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the drivers of firm productivity growth in Spain. Spain's weak productivity performance has been linked to the dominance of many low-productivity small firms and inefficient allocation of resources. The biggest gain can be expected from lowering regulatory...

This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights continued strong, balanced, and employment-intensive expansion of the Spanish economy during the first half of 2017; the recovery reached a significant milestone when real GDP surpassed its precrisis peak. The economy grew by 3.3 percent in 2016 and is...

This paper assesses the stability of the Spanish financial system as a whole. Spain's banking system has been steadily progressing since the last Financial System Assessment Program. The authorities have made a significant reform effort. Together with the economic recovery, and support by the...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the challenges for the Spanish pension system. Spain's population, like those in many other advanced economies, is projected to age over the coming decades. Although projections are uncertain, the simple fact is that Spain's aging and shrinking population has...

This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain in the areas of bank resolution and crisis management frameworks. The institutional framework in Spain has been strengthened and is more appropriate for managing the resolution...

This Technical Note discusses the recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain regarding determinants of bank profitability. Profitability remains higher for Spanish banks than for European peers, especially supported by relatively high net interest margins; however, some...