Industrialization in Spain: Stages, Growth, and Crisis (1959-1985)
Classified in Geography
Written at on 
English with a size of 1.99 KB.
The Stages of Industrialization in Spain (1959-1974)
The Culmination of the Industrial Process (1959 - 1974)
In 1959, the "Plan of Stabilization of the Spanish Economy" was approved, marking the end of autarky and the beginning of economic liberalization in Spain. From then on, Spain experienced significant economic and industrial growth, largely due to the influx of overseas capital (American, Swiss, etc.) and large multinational corporations. These companies sought to exploit the advantages that Spain offered at the time.
These advantages included abundant and cheap labor, a lack of labor unrest, and permissive legislation. During this period, industry benefited from several favorable factors for its development. Industries were located where there was abundant labor, in areas well-supplied with energy, and near the sites where policy decisions were made, and where there were groups of entrepreneurs willing to invest. Thus, industry was mainly located in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Asturias, and Madrid.
After 1959, the State favored the creation of other industrial cores, called "polos de desarrollo" (development poles), such as Zaragoza, Burgos, Vigo, and Seville. The sectors that experienced significant development from the 1960s were the automotive, steel, cement, and sulfuric acid industries. The traditional textile industry remained stagnant. Spanish industrial development followed a model based on the creation of large factories that consumed large amounts of energy, and work was organized into assembly lines.
The Spanish Industry from 1975 to 1985: Crisis, Restructuring, and Industrial Change
In the mid-1970s, Spain was affected by the global economic crisis. Global economic development had been based on large corporate profits, improvements granted to workers, the use of cheap energy (oil), and the control of the world market by large industrial powers. The crisis also hit Spain in the mid-1970s, aggravated by a period of political instability.