presentation
The free circulation of products, capital and persons, with all the consequences for society, employment and economic activity; the increasing importance of knowledge as the basis for development; competition from countries such as China, and changes to economic policies have led to many changes in the economic framework.
The regional and local European economies are now forced to evolve in a busier, more competitive and difficult environment, which has been affected, amongst other things, by specific factors such as:
- The increase in ‘Euroscepticism’ in member countries.
- The rebate to the contribution made by the United Kingdom.
- The reduction in subsidies.
- Uncontrolled immigration in Europe.
- Increasing competition from countries with economic systems which operate at a different pace and have different costs to the European system.
- The decentralisation of companies.
- The new economic policies resulting from negotiations in the WTO, the Spanish Government and disagreements in the EU.
The serious repercussions that these changes have on the regional economy make it necessary to analyse and debate the current situation in order to make a diagnosis and identify the problems. It will then be possible to decide on the most appropriate course of action and solutions to the problems, or at least to lay the foundations with which to combat the consequences of this new economic context.
The II La Rioja Regional Economic Forum offers an appropriate framework and is an essential instrument for the specialised consideration of the issues, allowing analysts, employers and politicians to uncover the real economic situation and its main features. It will then be possible to pinpoint trends, enabling which political decisions, plans and strategic action to be reviewed in the short and medium term.
