Europe: Fractures, inequality and periphery

The recession is having devastating effects on economical, social, political and institutional issues. The situation is getting worse daily, and forecasts for the global economy are bleak. This crisis is particularly destructive for countries like Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal, and others situated in the periphery of Europe, impoverishing parts of the population, and leaving young people without a present, or a future.

It has become increasingly evident that the established bases for the government’s economical policies are proven wrong, while it has also become clear that a privileged few are taking advantage of this mistake. For a long time, this has resulted in fomenting strikes, mirroring the indignation amongst the population, and trying to show their inconformity, demand for new politics and horizons and above all, solutions. Many critical economists, committed to social movements, have started to refute the supposed fundamentals, upon which our daily politics are based, by formulating alternative proposals.

The group of economists that compose EconoNuestra, want to contribute with this debate, and so, we have organised for November 22nd and 23rd, an encounter with other economists from Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, together with citizens concerned about the problem, and participants of social networks and movements. We have given it the title “Juventud, periferia económica europea y fractura social”, or, “Youth, European economic periphery and social division”.

Our main aim is that this encounter leads to an open debate, as well as to provide constructive criticism of our contemporary economies and the priorities that should prevail in each country, and moreover, in the European Union, so as to reach alternative economic politics.

For this occasion, we have prepared a document named “Los países periféricos en una Europa fracturada” that means “Peripheral countries in a divided Europe”, with the interest of starting a debate, putting ideas and proposals on the table that we consider relevant. We would like to invite you to participate in this initiative, and feel free to let us know all of your ideas, and your proposals that you think are fundamental and necessary (aportaciones.manifiesto@economy4youth.com).