Del centro a la periferiala economía española bajo Carlos II

Abstract

This article offers a revisionist view of the main changes taking place in the Spanish economy in the epoch of Charles II. Recent literature on the so-called 17th century "crisis" is considered in order to clarify to what extent the Spanish case is in tune with other western European countries and to evaluate the relevance of those changes in the long run. Quantitative series on rural and urban population, agrarian production, domestic trade, as well as evidence of economic specialization and other major economic aspects, demonstrate the readjustments which occurred and show deep regional differences which support a more balanced view of the "Spanish decline". As in other European areas, a shift from centre to periphery and coastal areas took place that convenyed a new pattern of growth. Nevertheless, the low intensity of these changes due to institutional rigidity and to the obstruction, at local level, of the reforms coming from the Crown, prevented rapid integration among the different regions and slowed the economic development of the country.