1. Spain as a Case-Study: Regional Problems and Policies

Spain is considered to be a very interesting case-study regarding regional problems, in general, and regional development policies, in particular. This is something which has been acknowledged by the many scholars who have studied this issue who, on the one hand, have always highlighted the convergence of deeply rooted political, sociological, and economic questions in what is now the Spanish State and on the other hand, have pointed out the positive effects of regional policies applied since the end of the eighties up to present date. As is the case with other European States, Spain’s history is a complex one. A large number of events, dates, and decisions have influenced the shape taken by Spain as a State. Although the first great progression towards a unified State took place in the last decades of the fifteenth century, a number of the kingdoms and territories which made it up retained their differences with the rest, either in the form of important legal norms, taxes, language or other questions of the economic and social life of their inhabitants. This situation was maintained during more than two centuries, and although later the effective unification of the country was gradually imposed by the authorities, this did not prevent the survival of a number of differences and claims in some of its territories, as in Catalonia or in the Basque Country.