Ultimately, coming of age is a matter of faith in oneself and in the values that help one to endure whatever life throws at them: order, discipline, the capacity to endure hardship, the ability to wait, and the ability to carry on.
It’s good to cross a desert – or several – in the course of one’s life. The difficulties one has faced have given one time to reflect, to get to know oneself deeply, and, most importantly, to better oneself with each new challenge and ultimately to triumph.
I would like to use this text as an analogy for the period we are about to endure in Spain. Until very recently, we were puffing out our chests and believed ourselves to be at the forefront of Europe, with that spectacular growth of 4-5% compared to the meagre 1-2% of France or Germany, but suddenly, as if it had all been a dream, we have woken up to find nothing but a vast expanse of sand all around us – a huge desert from which it will be difficult to escape, though not impossible. Some, those close to the oases, still believe that everything is perfect.
Spain must come to terms with the fact that the coming years are going to be tough, a situation exacerbated by our low productivity and the demise of the two sectors on which growth was based over the past decade: tourism and construction. Only by accepting that the models of the past were flawed can we lay the foundations for future growth to take place.
Let’s take Italy as an example, as it is our close neighbour, even though it is in a different league. Italy has an export capacity that Spain lacks; it is no coincidence that it ranks amongst the world’s top eight exporting powers, even though its trade balance is also in deficit. Italy’s largest exports can be found in the automotive, petrochemical, defence and electrical sectors, but, without a doubt, what gives Italy an advantage over Spain are its key industries – those that are world-renowned and enjoy international prestige, such as the food industry, the fashion industry and the luxury car industry. In this case, the ‘Made in Italy’ label provides the country with a safety net against potential competitors and a lifeline in times such as these.
Spain, on the other hand, despite having exquisite cured meats, wines that delight any palate, and cheeses and olive oils that win awards worldwide (we’ve always been great lovers of good food here), fails to get its products sold in ordinary shops across half the world, as is the case with Italian produce. It’s frustrating to be in a mid-range restaurant abroad, flick through the wine list and see how, amongst the multitude of Italian, French, Californian and Australian bottles, there are barely a couple from Spain – and sometimes not even that. And this is just one sad example of the lack of clout behind the ‘Made in Spain’ label.
Spain must make the most of this difficult period that lies ahead to lay the foundations for future growth, and make a clear commitment to certain sectors in which it can achieve competitive advantages (as Italy currently enjoys) in the future. If this journey through the wilderness does not serve to open our eyes, help us understand ourselves more deeply and strive to better ourselves in the future, Spain’s growth will be doomed to the emergence of bubbles of various kinds which, each time they burst, will only serve to sink us deeper into the quicksand of stagnation and recession.