Downturn and the need for certainty
Por José María Romero Vera
14th of November 2018
The Spanish economy is immersed in a downturn phase of the expansive economic cycle, with more moderate variation rates. According to estimates in Equipo Economico, GDP will grow 2.6% in 2018 and 2.2% in 2019. These figures mean a downward revision with respect to our previous estimates, as a result of the change in external tail winds, lack of economic reforms since 2016 and the uncertainty generated in the last months by the messages on economic, budgetary and fiscal matters.
Farms, sheep, cheese... and taxes
- Por Jesús Quintas
- 31st of October 2018
The fact of introducing an anonymous author in certain way is often used in narrative. But in this case I was highly inspired by the announcement of a minimum tax for corporations, due to such low effective rate observed in these entities in recent times, particularly in big corporations. As this note is inspired by traditional fables and parables, its aim is no other than giving a value judgment, meaning that it might not be shared neither agreed by all readers.
The fiscal and the economic-social dualization
- Por Jesús Quintas
- 14th of September 2018
The conflict between development and redistribution is in the focus of the debates on the most appropriate economic policy. Quite often, the arguments in favor of the preeminence of one over the other are not so rooted in the analysis of the economic and social impact of the suggested measures, as on their popularity for the electors, with an increasing trend towards social duality. This social duality distorts the principle inspiring the creation of the modern state of law: charges must be approved by those on which such charges will be levied. This post poses three illustrative examples of such a situation.
Parking fine, my battle won to the City Council
- Por Alberto González Ferrer
- 16th of July 2018
After two long years of proceedings against the Madrid City Council, the Contentious Administrative Court of Madrid has finally ruled in my favour: the controllers of the Municipal Regulated Parking Service (known by its acronym SER) are required to incorporate in the administrative file when signing a fine an image of the vehicle, in the form of photography, digital filming or other technological means, that allows them to endorse the complaint made. Not meeting this legal requirement, the fine would be illegal.
Significant dynamism vs. greater uncertainty
- Por José María Romero Vera
- 11th of July 2018
Spain’s economic growth has continued to show notable dynamism in the first semester 2018, clearly above the European average. It moves forward along the same lines as the global product. However, we also observe the growing divergence occurring as the year goes on between the robust economic data and the greater uncertainty arising from an increased risk, both for the global economy and Spain.