Editing Catalonia (section)

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Spain}}
[[File:Aerial view of Barcelona, Spain (51227309370).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Barcelona]]
[[File:Camps de Presseguers a Aitona, Segrià.jpg|thumb|right|Peach fields in [[Aitona]]]]
[[File:Strand Santa Cristina.JPG|thumb|[[Costa Brava]] beach. [[Tourism in Spain|Tourism]] plays an important role in the Catalan economy.]]
A highly industrialized region, the nominal [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of Catalonia in 2018 was €228{{spaces}}billion (second after the [[community of Madrid]], €230{{spaces}}billion) and the per capita{{nbsp}}GDP was €30,426 ($32,888), behind [[Community of Madrid|Madrid]] (€35,041), the Basque Country (€33,223), and [[Navarre]] (€31,389).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Comparar Comunidades Autónomas Madrid vs Cataluña 2020 |url=https://datosmacro.expansion.com/ccaa/comparar/madrid/cataluna|website=datosmacro.com|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529020337/https://datosmacro.expansion.com/ccaa/comparar/madrid/cataluna|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, the GDP growth was 2.3%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Catalunya mantiene el papel de locomotora de España en el 2018 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20190429/461934212168/cataluna-madrid-pib-crecimiento-economia.html|date=29 April 2019|website=[[La Vanguardia]]|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519094559/https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20190429/461934212168/cataluna-madrid-pib-crecimiento-economia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Catalonia's long-term credit rating is BB{{nbsp}}(Non-Investment Grade) according to [[Standard & Poor's]], Ba2{{nbsp}}(Non-Investment Grade) according to [[Moody's]], and BBB-{{nbsp}}(Low Investment Grade) according to [[Fitch Ratings]].<ref>{{cite news|title=S&P mantiene la deuda de Cataluña en "bono basura"|url=http://www.expansion.com/catalunya/2015/04/17/5531492622601d6b098b456e.html|access-date=13 August 2015|work=Expansión|publisher=Unidad Editorial|date=17 April 2015|archive-date=20 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820021919/http://www.expansion.com/catalunya/2015/04/17/5531492622601d6b098b456e.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Standard & Poor's degrada la calificación de Catalunya a 'bono basura'|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20120831/54344088562/standard-poor-s-catalunya-bono-basura.html|access-date=13 August 2015|work=[[La Vanguardia|La Vanguardia Economía]]|agency=La Vanguardia|publisher=Javier Godó|date=31 August 2012|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903215156/http://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20120831/54344088562/standard-poor-s-catalunya-bono-basura.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="agency-ratings">{{cite news|title=Rating: Calificación de la deuda de las Comunidades Autónomas|url=http://www.datosmacro.com/ratings/espana-comunidades-autonomas|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821043546/http://www.datosmacro.com/ratings/espana-comunidades-autonomas|url-status=live}}</ref> Catalonia's rating is tied for worst with between 1 and 5 other autonomous communities of Spain, depending on the rating agency.<ref name="agency-ratings"/>

According to a 2020 study by Eu-Starts-Up, the Catalan capital is one of the European bases of "reference for start-ups" and the fifth city in the world to establish one of these companies, behind London, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam. Barcelona is behind London, New York, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Dubai and Singapore and ahead of Los Angeles and Madrid.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Barcelona, considerada la octava mejor ciudad del mundo {{!}} Barcelona International Welcome {{!}} Barcelona|url=https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/es/noticia/barcelona-considerada-la-octava-mejor-ciudad-del-mundo_1013838|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116180530/https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/es/noticia/barcelona-considerada-la-octava-mejor-ciudad-del-mundo_1013838|archive-date=16 January 2021|access-date=27 February 2022|website=barcelona.cat}}</ref>

In the context of the [[2008 financial crisis]], Catalonia was expected to suffer a [[recession]] amounting to almost a 2% contraction of its regional GDP in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/BBVA/descarta/economia/catalana/caiga/elpepuespcat/20090114elpepueco_7/Tes|title=BBVA no descarta que la economía catalana caiga un 2%|newspaper=[[El País]]|date=14 January 2009|publisher=Elpais.com|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023014/https://elpais.com/economia/2009/01/14/actualidad/1231921979_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Catalonia's debt in 2012 was the highest of all Spain's autonomous communities,<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2012/07/25/spanish-region-of-catalonia-using-debt-to-get-rich.html "Spanish Region of Catalonia: Using Debt to Get Rich".]  [[CNBC]] News. Retrieved 14 October 2013.</ref> reaching €13,476{{spaces}}million, i.e. 38% of the total debt of the 17{{nbsp}}autonomous communities,<ref>{{cite news|author=Financial Crisis|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9290206/Catalonia-calls-for-help-from-central-government-to-pay-debts.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9290206/Catalonia-calls-for-help-from-central-government-to-pay-debts.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title="Catalonia calls for help from central government to pay debts".|work=Telegraph|access-date=1 February 2014|location=London|date=25 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but in recent years its economy recovered a positive evolution and the GDP grew a 3.3% in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ara.cat/economia/creixement-catalunya-PIB-2015-airef_0_1514848604.html|title=Catalunya va créixer un 3,3% el 2015, una dècima més que Espanya |newspaper=Ara.cat|access-date=13 September 2016|author1=Ara|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005114645/http://www.ara.cat/economia/creixement-catalunya-PIB-2015-airef_0_1514848604.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Polígon Industrial Aquiberia - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|Industrial park in [[Castellbisbal]]]]
[[File:Tarragona Poligon Nord.png|thumb|left|Factories, [[La Pobla de Mafumet]], Tarragona]]
Catalonia is amongst the [[List of country subdivisions by GDP over 100 billion US dollars]] and is a member of the [[Four Motors for Europe]] organisation.

The distribution of sectors is as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas/spain/factsheets/pdf/fact_es51_en.pdf|title=Structural Funds programmes in Catalonia – (2000–2006) |access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325180143/http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas/spain/factsheets/pdf/fact_es51_en.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2009}}</ref>

*[[Primary sector of industry|Primary sector]]: 3%. The amount of land devoted to agricultural use is 33%.
*[[Secondary sector of industry|Secondary sector]]: 37% (compared to Spain's 29%)
*[[Tertiary sector of industry|Tertiary sector]]: 60% (compared to Spain's 67%)

The main tourist destinations in Catalonia are the city of Barcelona, the beaches of the Costa Brava in [[Girona]], the beaches of the [[Costa del Maresme]] and [[Costa del Garraf]] from [[Malgrat de Mar]] to [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]] and the [[Costa Daurada]] in Tarragona. In the High Pyrenees there are several ski resorts, near [[Lleida]]. On 1{{nbsp}}November{{nbsp}}2012, Catalonia started charging a tourist tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://costabravatouristguide.com/152-catalonia-tourist-tax-fees|title=Catalonia Tourist Tax|publisher=Costa Brava Tourist Guide|access-date=24 June 2015|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626144939/http://costabravatouristguide.com/152-catalonia-tourist-tax-fees|url-status=live}}</ref> The revenue is used to promote tourism, and to maintain and upgrade tourism-related infrastructure.

[[File:Sabadell - Eix Macià.jpg|thumb|Eix Macià, [[Sabadell]]]]
Many of Spain's leading [[savings bank]]s were based in Catalonia before the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|independence referendum of 2017]]. However, in the aftermath of the referendum, many of them moved their registered office to other parts of Spain. That includes the two biggest Catalan banks at that moment, [[La Caixa]], which moved its office to [[Palma de Mallorca]], and [[Banc Sabadell]], ranked fourth among all Spanish private banks and which moved its office to [[Alicante]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=CaixaBank traslada su sede a Valencia y La Fundación Bancaria La Caixa y Criteria a Palma|url=https://www.expansion.com/economia/politica/2017/10/05/59d66b8d46163f200d8b458a.html|date=5 October 2017|website=Expansión.com|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519034451/https://www.expansion.com/economia/politica/2017/10/05/59d66b8d46163f200d8b458a.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Banco Sabadell traslada su domicilio social a Alicante|url=https://www.europapress.es/economia/finanzas-00340/noticia-sabadell-traslada-domicilio-social-alicante-20171005180329.html|date=5 October 2017|publisher=Europa Press|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519050300/https://www.europapress.es/economia/finanzas-00340/noticia-sabadell-traslada-domicilio-social-alicante-20171005180329.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That happened after the Spanish government passed a law allowing companies to move their registered office without requiring the approval of the company's general meeting of shareholders.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-06|title=El Govern espanyol aprova un decret per facilitar la fugida d'empreses de Catalunya|url=https://beteve.cat/economia/decret-govern-espanyol-trasllat-empreses-catalunya/|access-date=2023-04-10|website=beteve.cat|language=ca|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410134636/https://beteve.cat/economia/decret-govern-espanyol-trasllat-empreses-catalunya/|url-status=live}}</ref> Overall, there was a negative net relocation rate of companies based in Catalonia moving to other autonomous communities of Spain. From the 2017 independence referendum until the end of 2018, for example, Catalonia lost 5454{{nbsp}}companies to other parts of Spain (mainly Madrid), 2359 only in 2018, gaining 467 new ones from the rest of the country during 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Más de 5.400 empresas trasladaron su sede desde Catalunya tras la consulta del 1-O|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/economia/20191012/mas-de-5400-empresas-trasladaron-su-sede-desde-catalunya-desde-la-consulta-del-1-o-7678362|last=Efe|date=12 October 2019|website=elperiodico|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519052907/https://www.elperiodico.com/es/economia/20191012/mas-de-5400-empresas-trasladaron-su-sede-desde-catalunya-desde-la-consulta-del-1-o-7678362|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Más de 5.600 empresas han huido de Cataluña en dos años|url=https://www.libremercado.com/2019-10-14/empresas-huido-cataluna-referendun-1276646261/|date=14 October 2019|website=Libre Mercado|language=es-ES|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519052907/https://www.libremercado.com/2019-10-14/empresas-huido-cataluna-referendun-1276646261/|url-status=live}}</ref> It has been reported that the Spanish government and the Spanish King [[Felipe VI]] pressured some of the big Catalan companies to move their headquarters outside of the region.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Manté|first=Albert Martín / àlex Font|date=2018-10-05|title=L'Estat va treure milers de milions de dipòsits dels bancs catalans el 2-O|url=https://www.ara.cat/economia/treure-milers-milions-diposits-catalans_1_1196067.html|access-date=2023-04-10|website=Ara.cat|language=ca|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410134634/https://www.ara.cat/economia/treure-milers-milions-diposits-catalans_1_1196067.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Martín|first=Àlex Font Manté, Natàlia Vila, Albert|date=2018-10-06|title=Així va fer l'Estat la guerra econòmica contra Catalunya|url=https://emprenem.ara.cat/empreses/aixi-guerra-economica-contra-catalunya_1_1033187.html|access-date=2023-04-10|website=Ara.cat|language=ca|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410134635/https://emprenem.ara.cat/empreses/aixi-guerra-economica-contra-catalunya_1_1033187.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The stock market of Barcelona, which in 2016 had a volume of around €152{{spaces}}billion, is the second largest of Spain after Madrid, and [[Fira de Barcelona]] organizes international exhibitions and congresses to do with different sectors of the economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.borsabcn.es/docs/BBarna/docsSubidos/DatosBasicos/factb2016.pdf|title=Fact Sheet 2016 |publisher=Barcelona Stock Exchange|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055735/http://www.borsabcn.es/docs/BBarna/docsSubidos/DatosBasicos/factb2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The main economic cost for Catalan families is the purchase of a home. According to data from the Society of Appraisal on 31{{nbsp}}December{{nbsp}}2005 Catalonia is, after Madrid, the second most expensive region in Spain for housing: 3,397{{spaces}}€/m<sup>2</sup> on average{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} (see [[Spanish property bubble]]).

=== Unemployment ===
The unemployment rate stood at 10.5% in 2019 and was lower than the national average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1|title=Regional Unemployment by NUTS2 Region|website=Eurostat|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105202703/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Unemployment rate (December data) (%)
|-
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
!2019
|-
|align="right"|6.6%
|align="right"|6.5%
|align="right"|11.8%
|align="right"|16.9%
|align="right"|17.9%
|align="right"|20.4%
|align="right"|23.8%
|align="right"|21.9%
|align="right"|19.9%
|align="right"|17.7%
|align="right"|14.9%
|align="right"|12.6%
|align="right"|11.8%
|10.5%
|}

=== Transport ===

==== Airports ====
[[File:17-12-04-Aeropuerto de Barcelona-El Prat-RalfR-DSCF0722.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barcelona El Prat Airport|Barcelona Airport]] tower]]
{{See also|List of airports in Catalonia}}
Airports in Catalonia are owned and operated by [[Aena]] (a [[Government of Spain|Spanish Government]] entity) except two airports in Lleida which are operated by [[Aeroports de Catalunya]] (an entity belonging to the [[Government of Catalonia]]).

*[[Barcelona El Prat Airport]] (Aena)
*[[Girona-Costa Brava Airport]] (Aena)
*[[Reus Airport]] (Aena)
*[[Lleida-Alguaire Airport]] (Aeroports de Catalunya)
*[[Sabadell Airport]] (Aena)
*[[La Seu d'Urgell Airport]] (Aeroports de Catalunya)

==== Ports ====
{{See also|List of ports in Spain}}
[[File:Aerial view of Zona Franca and the Port of Barcelona, Spain (51227005889).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Zona Franca and the Port of Barcelona]]
Since the Middle Ages, Catalonia has been well integrated into international maritime networks. The [[port of Barcelona]] (owned and operated by {{lang|es|[[Puertos del Estado]]}}, a Spanish Government entity) is an industrial, commercial and tourist port of worldwide importance. With 1,950,000{{nbsp}}[[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEUs]] in 2015, it is the first container port in Catalonia, the third in Spain after Valencia and [[Algeciras]] in Andalusia, the 9th{{nbsp}}in the Mediterranean Sea, the 14th{{nbsp}}in Europe and the 68th{{nbsp}}in the world. It is sixth largest cruise port in the world, the first in Europe and the Mediterranean with 2,364,292{{nbsp}}passengers in 2014. The ports of [[Tarragona]] (owned and operated by Puertos del Estado) in the southwest and [[Palamós]] near Girona at northeast are much more modest. The port of Palamós and the other ports in Catalonia{{nbsp}}(26) are operated and administered by {{lang|ca|{{ill|Ports de la Generalitat|ca|vertical-align=sup}}}}, a Catalan Government entity.

The development of these infrastructures, resulting from the topography and history of the Catalan territory, responds strongly to the administrative and political organization of this autonomous community.

==== Roads ====
{{See also|List of primary highways in Catalonia}}
[[File:Autopista C-16.jpg|thumb|right|[[Autovía C-16|Autovia C-16]] ({{lang|ca|Eix del Llobregat}})]]

There are {{convert|12000|km}} of roads throughout Catalonia.

The principal highways are <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}AP-7{{spaces}}'''</span> ({{lang|ca|Autopista de la Mediterrània}}) and <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}A-7{{spaces}}'''</span> ({{lang|ca|Autovia de la Mediterrània}}). They follow the coast from the [[France|French border]] to [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], [[Region of Murcia|Murcia]] and [[Andalusia]]. The main roads generally radiate from Barcelona. The <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}AP-2{{spaces}}'''</span> [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]] ({{lang|ca|Autopista del Nord-est}}) and <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}A-2{{spaces}}'''</span> ({{lang|ca|Autovia del Nord-est}}) connect inland and onward to Madrid.

Other major roads are:
{| class="wikitable"
! ID !! Itinerary
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = N-II|colorbg = #f00}}|| Lleida-[[La Jonquera]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-12|colorbg = #f00}}|| [[Amposta]]-[[Àger]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-16|colorbg = #f00}}|| Barcelona-[[Puigcerdà]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-17|colorbg = #f00}} [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]]|| Barcelona-[[Ripoll]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-25|colorbg = #f00}}|| [[Cervera]]-Girona
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = A-26|colorbg = #039}}|| [[Llançà]]-[[Olot]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-32|colorbg = #f00}} [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]]|| [[El Vendrell]]-[[Tordera]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-60|colorbg = #f00}} [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]]|| [[Argentona]]-[[La Roca del Vallès]]
|}

Public-own roads in Catalonia are either managed by the autonomous government of Catalonia (e.g., <span style="background: red; color: white">'''{{spaces}}C-{{spaces}}'''</span> roads) or the [[Spanish government]] (e.g., <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}AP-{{spaces}}'''</span>, <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}A-{{spaces}}'''</span>, <span style="background: red; color: white">'''{{spaces}}N-{{spaces}}'''</span> roads).

==== Railways ====
{{See also|Rail transport in Catalonia}}
[[File:RN103007TarJPVL.JPG|thumb|right|[[AVE|High-speed train (AVE)]] at [[Camp de Tarragona]] ]]
Catalonia saw the first railway construction in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in 1848, linking Barcelona with [[Mataró]]. Given the topography, most lines radiate from Barcelona. The city has both suburban and inter-city services. The main east coast line runs through the province connecting with the [[SNCF]] (French Railways) at [[Portbou]] on the coast.

There are two publicly owned railway companies operating in Catalonia: the Catalan [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya|FGC]] that operates commuter and regional services, and the Spanish national [[Renfe]] that operates long-distance and high-speed rail services (AVE and Avant) and the main commuter and regional service {{lang|ca|[[Rodalies de Catalunya]]}}, administered by the Catalan government since 2010.

[[High-speed rail]] ([[AVE]]) services from [[Madrid]] currently reach Barcelona, via Lleida and Tarragona. The official opening between Barcelona and Madrid took place 20{{nbsp}}February{{nbsp}}2008. The journey between Barcelona and Madrid now takes about two-and-a-half hours. A connection to the [[High-speed rail in France#Network|French high-speed TGV network]] has been completed (called the [[Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line]]) and the Spanish AVE service began commercial services on the line 9{{nbsp}}January{{nbsp}}2013, later offering services to [[Marseille]] on their high speed network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/spain-opens-iberias-high-speed-rail-link-to-europe.html|title=Spain completes Iberia's high-speed link to Europe|last=Barrow|first=Keith|access-date=24 July 2018|language=en-gb|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924085255/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/spain-opens-iberias-high-speed-rail-link-to-europe.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/high-speed-launched-between-france-and-spain.html|title=High speed services between France and Spain launched|last=Ltd|first=DVV Media International|work=[[Railway Gazette International]]|access-date=25 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331214433/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/high-speed-launched-between-france-and-spain.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was shortly followed by the commencement of commercial service by the French TGV on 17{{nbsp}}January{{nbsp}}2013, leading to an average travel time on the [[List of TGV services#International|Paris-Barcelona TGV]] route of 7h{{nbsp}}42m.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/barcelona-to-paris|title=Barcelona to Paris from €35 in 6h29m {{!}} Times, Tickets & Info|website=[[Trainline]]|language=en|access-date=25 July 2018|archive-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033306/https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/barcelona-to-paris|url-status=live}}</ref> This new line passes through [[Girona]] and [[Figueres]] with a [[Perthus Tunnel|tunnel]] through the Pyrenees.

{{clear}}