Catalonia

Catalonia functions as Spain's industrial engine and creative capital, generating 18.8% of national GDP from 16.5% of the population—a productivity surplus that creates the economic foundation for its distinctive political identity. The region outpaced national growth in 2024 (3.6% vs 3.2%), with BBVA Research forecasting continued above-average expansion. Barcelona's economy consolidated across nearly all sectors, driven by service reactivation and tourism contributing 14% of metropolitan GDP.

Yet Catalonia faces constraints that mirror the ecological concept of carrying capacity. Tourism is "nearing maximum capacity in peak season," with Barcelona receiving 1.9 million hotel visitors in Q1 2025 alone (up 3%). The region attracts 18.6% foreign-born residents—Spain's highest proportion—creating both labor supply and housing pressure. Industrial production faces bottlenecks while private investment remains "unresponsive" despite high household savings. The affordable housing shortage particularly affects the metropolitan core.

The independence movement's economic legacy is visible in investment patterns and corporate relocations, though 2025 forecasts focus on material constraints rather than political uncertainty. Catalonia creates the most jobs in Spain (according to BBVA), yet this employment growth strains infrastructure already at capacity. The region demonstrates how economic success generates its own limiting factors: tourism crowds destinations, industry hits labor constraints, and housing costs exclude workers needed for expansion. Growth begets congestion, which constrains further growth.