Sorry DD but I´m a tad confused. Who´s saying it´s a positive?

No one directly, but I got the impression it was implied.

Look at official GDP per capita, add unofficial GDP per capita (the black market) and voila!

"apparently".

The biggest export from Spain? I thought it may be wine, or food perhaps...

According to this it's Machinery & Motor Vehicles, which makes sense I suppose, given the number of motor companies who have factories in Spain.



http://www.businessinsider.com/every...-export-2014-5

A very simple minded early schoolbook approach which could well be misleading to those who have zilch knowledge of the aforementioned countries.

I think details of at least 3 or 4 of the main exports from each country, would at least present a slightly more balanced picture.

well now we can see why the US has no real idea of the economy of anywhere in the world. On this they base their Foreign Policy

as to wine, food, olives, olive oil (worlds largest producer) then I have said it before - Spain needs a policy to export more direct instead of passing it on to the money grabbers in Italy who improve the quality of their own products by passing it off as "European".
Surely someone somewhere (even you SD??) could find the money to start taking on the other countries at their own game and becoming the power house with the quality products so many people would like to see on their meal/coffee tables across the globe. All in neat packaging marked "Grown/Produced in Spain".

http://spaininthenews.blogspot.com.es/

Is this the right way back ?
Rajoy seems to think so.

"Spanish set to become worlds next slave labour workers
Spain still struggles through 26% unemployment yet the opportunity of work isn't necessarily the answer for many. As Spanish president, Mariano Rajoy, talks the big talk of how his political party has technically taken Spain out of recession, the reality is a life of poverty and a future of debts for Spain's 45 million inhabitants.

For some time now, Spain's business owners have been using the threat of unemployment to strike fear into their employees and abuse them by means of offering illegal working conditions. You'd think that today in 2014, a country like Spain which claims to be modern and is part of the European Union, discriminatory and illegal job offers and contracts would be a thing of the past however, a quick look through online classifieds proves the opposite.
Job offers abound the internet classifieds with offers for "good looking girls with nice figures", "under 30's only", "room & food in exchange for full time hours" are just a few examples of what to expect in a search for employment.
Employer exploitation has staff working excessive and illegal hours for free through fear of losing their jobs due to the governments new measures that allows employers to fire staff with little or no reason at the drop of a sombrero.
In any other modern country of Europe, action would be taken against these oppressive working conditions yet here in Spain they have now become the norm with free reign for employers to do whatever they want with no means of reprisal. The government set minimum wage for each work category seems to have been completely ignored with waiters being offered less than basic wages, working more than full time hours for part time salary.
One would think this would be limited to the private sector only yet official government bodies and town hall placements also fall foul to indiscriminate working practices.
If you were to phone 060 Madrid, emergencias sanitarias, on a regular basis, you may think everyone has the same voice but the reality is....it's a severely understaffed platform that frequently only has one person there to answer all calls, day or night, putting lives at risk of the 6 million inhabitants of Spain's capital."

Much the same stories have been widely reported across the media, however little or nothing is done.
Looks more like a step back to being a third world country than part of today's Europe.

Do you really think that the UK is now that far ahead of Spain in its provision of public services.
Weeks to get a doctors appt, no local emergency cover at night or at weekends in much of the UK. No effective police cover outside of 9-5.
The recession and austerity has changed the provison of services across most of Europe. It is just a question of degrees.
You happen believe that Spain has cut more than anywhere else.

From what basis are you saying that?

It's sunday. If I called my doctors hotline and it was essentially necessary, I'd have a doctor out here today
NHS Walk in Centres
NHS help line, clunky, but there all the time
On Monday morning if I call my surgery I get an appointment that day

To my knowledge that is the same in Western Wales, Somerset, the West Midlands and Warwickshire for starters

You apparently happen to believe something that simply isn't true

How would you know about Spain, when you live in Portugal?

And yes Spain has cut more than the UK, by miles, and another thing to mull over is that Spain was not so generous as the UK in a lot of aspects in the first place.

I doubt you can find a credible link to justify 'no effective police cover at night'

I see plenty of Police around at night, maybe you just go to bed too early.

1) OH & self rang local GP centre, next appt 3 weeks.
2) No local police stations, there are at times just 4 police on duty in the area between Taunton and Bristol at night.
3 ) Lead thieves seen on a nearby building. police called not by just us but others who observed them, No police response.
" Recorded crime levels are down simply because people just cannot be bothered to spend the time calling the police because nothing will happen.
You get a crime number for your insurance company if needed but that is all.
These are not complaints but just reveal that every country that has suffered from the recession to one degree or another and has cut back public services.
Yes Spain , Portugal , Greece and others because of their dire financial situations hve cut more but sadly your will just have to get used to it because the " good times are over " be it Spain or the UK.

Pinch of salt required with that one I fancy.

Normally have an appointment within an hour of calling, back at my place.
Superb service in every possible way.
Can't speak too highly of it.