The Spanish territory has undergone significant economic changes in recent decades, resulting in disparate impacts on various geographical areas. While previously thriving rural areas and small and medium-sized metropolitan regions now face job losses and slow income growth, large metropolitan areas have experienced more dynamic behavior.
Demographic transformations have also varied greatly across regions, leading to differences of almost a decade in the average age of the population between some provinces. These changes have contributed to an increase in disparities in well-being indicators when measured from a municipal perspective.
The VI Report on inequality in Spain, from the Alternativas Foundation, provides data on these differences. The report shows that indicators of greater well-being, such as income, health, education, and labor market opportunities, are primarily found in municipalities located in Madrid, Barcelona, and other cities within the Basque Country or Galicia. Additionally, some isolated cities like Zaragoza or Logroño also exhibit high values for these indicators.
On the other hand, most locations with lower values are situated on the southern coast of Spain and the Canary Islands. However, it is essential to note that these indicators do not always correspond to a more equitable distribution of income. Inequality is significantly higher in large cities compared to rural areas.
Examining the municipal map of inequality in Spain reveals that Madrid and its surroundings stand out for their high values, while many areas along the Mediterranean coast and islands also exhibit similar levels of well-being. In contrast, most regions along the Cantabrian coast tend to have lower values for these indicators. This pattern raises questions about why there has been an increase in disparities between different territories within Spain.