EC 341 - The Economic Effects of Spain's EU Membership

As member of the European Union, the Spanish economy has changed dramatically. Once economically isolated within the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has evolved from a backward economy to a dynamic European leader. However, recent events have unveiled some weak points in the Spanish economic model and posed new challenges. This course examines how EU membership, particularly the adhesion to the European Monetary Union, has influenced the economic development of this country. The course starts with the process of European economic and monetary unification. It then examines the impact of Spain’s accession to the EU and EMU, with special references to the effects of the 2008 recession, the crisis of the Euro, and the Covid-19 slowdown and its aftermath.