Does a wealth tax help to reduce inequality when it comes to distributing wealth? This report shows that Spain’s wealth tax displays major shortcomings that limit its collection and redistributive impact. This impact could be strengthened without losing its collection capacity through possible reforms and a simpler, more neutral structure.

Este informe recoge el análisis sobre la situación social en España y sobre la capacidad de las ayudas y subsidios existentes para garantizar unos ingresos mínimos a todos los ciudadanos, con el objetivo de reducir la pobreza y la desigualdad.

Would you like to know how we calculated these indicators? View the Methodological Appendix.

In Spain, spending volume per inhabitant grew until the crisis, when the tendency was interrupted. Despite this, it continues occupying an intermediate position among the European countries in terms of spending per inhabitant and in relation with GDP.

The indicators for Spain reflect a better state of health there than in the majority of European countries, except in the case of healthy lifestyles, which is in an intermediate position.

The state of health of the Spanish population has shown a notable improvement in recent years. For example, there has been a reduction in the percentage of people whose poor health limits them in performing everyday activities, as has that of chronically ill patients diagnosed with hypertension.

Universality of access, adequate care at all stages of a person’s life cycle and good quality of services are all factors that determine a healthcare system’s strength. What do the data reveal?

Want to know how we calculated these indicators? See our Methodological Appendix for details.

During the crisis, housing benefits decreased, and the downward effect of poverty on them in Spain was much lower than that of European countries. At the same time, subsidised housing reached historical minimums in 2017.

The cost of rental and delays in mortgage repayments are higher in Spain than in the majority of European countries. Other indicators, such as overcrowding, show better behaviour with respect to Europe.