Spain's Economy Seen as More Resilient Amid Global Uncertainty, Says Economist

Economist Gonzalo Bernardos told business leaders at the VI Encuentro Paterna Ciudad de Empresas that Spain's economy is stronger than many perceive. He argued that the country is better off than in recent years and has solid foundations for growth, provided it maintains competitiveness, attracts investment, leverages tourism and professional services, and addresses bottlenecks such as talent shortages, housing, bureaucracy and labor deficits in certain sectors.

Bernardos placed Spain's situation within a broader “era of uncertainty” triggered by the COVID‑19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, soaring energy and food prices, and Middle‑East tensions. He warned that companies must adapt to a more volatile supply‑side environment and highlighted risks in the United States and China that could affect global demand. He also criticised Europe’s lack of industrial policy and over‑reliance on Russian gas, but noted that a European recovery could benefit Spain as a secondary wind‑fall.