Catalonia is ending an extraordinary period of growth since 1996 which has been based on low interest rates, a large immigration inflow, wage moderation, and very substantial employment creation. This pattern of growth has been sustained with an important contribution from the construction and real state sectors (as well as tourism) and not with increases in productivity. This model is not sustainable and even when the present crisis is overcome it will not come back. At the same time Catalonia has maintained a core of medium sized firms which are very dynamic in exporting (mostly in medium technology sectors). This has contributed to a diversified industrial base which together with a high quality of life provides two key assets for the future.

Globalization has posed many questions that now, in a crisis context, are becoming urgent. The increase in competition that the globalization process has fostered, coupled with the crisis, puts on the line several key sectors of the Catalan economy. The crisis will add tremendous pressure to cut costs. Will the automotive sector follow the same odds as the textile sector? Or we need to go back to sector specific industrial policies to save declining sectors?

Catalonia is competing with other advanced regions of the world, in order to do so effectively it needs to have a first class infrastructure, skilled human capital and a vibrant competitive environment. Productivity, human capital, renovation and innovation, and internationalization are the name of the game. The exit from the present crisis will need a changed pattern of growth. The industrial landscape of Catalonia after the crisis will have to look quite different from the current one.

The project is divided in two volumes. Volume One “Competitiveness in Catalonia: Selected Topics” summarizes the findings of an extensive research on some key issues related to the competitiveness of Catalonia performed by experts in the different fields. It starts with a review of recent macroeconomic performance and assessment of some competitive endowments of Catalonia prepared with a contribution of Joaquín Trigo and material gathered by Jordi Ollé under supervision of Vives. Then it analyzes performance and prospects in three key areas: secondary education (Antonio Ciccone and Walter García-Fontes), the links between productivity, innovation, trade and competitiveness (with contributions from Jordi Jaumandreu, Bruno Cassiman and Elena Golovko, and Pankaj Ghemawat, Carlos Llano and Fernando Requena), and the relations between the science and innovation system and business (Bruno Cassiman and Jordi Mas). In so doing the lessons from the analysis are drawn of a low tech sector (food and drink), a medium tech sector (automotive)-with work in both by Ghemawat, and a high tech sector (biotechnology, with work by Núria Mas). Finally, it offers an analysis of company strategy (Ramon Casadesús-Masanell and Joan Enric Ricart). The final chapter sets an agenda for action.

Volume Two, published as Working Papers of the SPSP Research Center, consists of the individual contributions of the experts. 

- Resumen Ejecutivo  (PDF, 349 Kb)
- Resum Executiu  (PDF, 366 Kb)  
- Report “Competitiveness in Catalonia: Selected Topics”  (PDF, 4475 Kb)

- Working Papers

• Rethinking regional competitiveness: Catalonia's international and interregional trade, 1995-2006.
  Ghemawat, P., Llano, C., Requena, F.
  WP-802 

• Competitiveness, productivity and externalization: Food versus autos in Catalonia.
  Ghemawat, P. 
  WP-803

• What explains the evolution of productivity and competitiveness? The innovation link.
  Jaumandreu, J. 
  WP-804

• Biotechnology in Catalonia. Industry analysis. 
  Mas, N. 
  WP-805

• Catalan competitiveness: Science and business. 
  Cassiman, B., Mas, J. 
  WP-806

• Company strategy: Business model reconfiguration for innovation and internationalization. 
  Casadesus-Masanell, R., Ricart, JE. 
  WP-807

• Productivity of Catalan firms. International exposure and (product) innovation.
  Cassiman, B., Golovko, E. 
  WP-808

• The quality of the Catalan and Spanish education systems: A perspective from PISA.
  Ciccone, A., Garcia-Fontes, W.
  WP-810