The Spanish economic backwardness in the European mirror (1813-1914)

Abstract

This paper approaches the issue of the relative Spanish economic backwardness during the 19th century. Along its pages, quantitative evidences presented by the Spanish economic historiography are displayed and they show the poor or slow performance of the country’s economy during this period. Nevertheless, the big question has not only centered on the numbers but in its reasons. From those to blame it on the agriculture, passing through those interpretations that, on the contrary, emphasize the responsibility of the industry and entrepreneurs, there is a vivid, intense and sometimes exciting debate among Spanish economic historians around the subject.