Impact of Rapid Development: Migration and Social Change in Spain

Socio-Economic Consequences of Rapid Development

1. Internal and External Migration

• The modernization of agriculture (following years of poor harvests due to drought) and the progressive liberalization of the economy expelled 4 million farmers (between 1962 and 1975) from rural areas. These individuals, especially small farmers and laborers from the interior, were forced to abandon their villages and seek employment in more developed areas of Spain or in industrialized European countries.
• Lacking professional qualifications, these migrants were forced to work as cheap labor in the industry, construction, and services sectors, which experienced considerable growth during those years.

2. Mediterranean Tourism Development

• Consolidation of the summer arrival of foreign tourists, who were beginning to be joined by national groups taking advantage of new roads and the ease of buying cars.
• Uncontrolled urban development began operating along the Mediterranean coast, encouraging growing demand.

3. Consolidation of Regional Inequalities

There was significant variation in the distribution of provincial income. The Basque Country, Madrid, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands continued to report the highest per capita incomes, while Orense, Badajoz, and Jaén remained at the bottom of the list.

4. Insufficient Resources and Public Utilities

The government's polarizing focus on industrial development did not increase public spending, making the following issues more evident:

• The lack of schools and colleges, falling well below the needs of the growing child population (due to increased birth rates).
• The lack of sufficient health insurance and pensions for a society that was beginning to age.
• The huge housing shortage, which authorities attempted to resolve with large-scale urban promotions that favored urban speculation, resulting in residents living without basic social or urban amenities.

5. Profound Social Changes

• Tourism, migration, and the establishment of multinational companies exposed Spaniards to new modes of thought and political and social behavior.
• The widespread use of electrical appliances, television, and cars exemplified the new "consumer society," which clashed with the traditional values of the regime.

Significant Cultural Shifts

• Lower importance of the opinion of the Catholic Church.
• New habits in the relationship between the sexes.
• New fashions, customs, and attire introduced by tourism.