Economic distress and discourse : the rise of a corporatist rhetoric in Northern Spain after World War I

The paper explores the relationship between language and economy, between text and context, through a case study: the Basque region in northern Spain during World War I and the immediate postwar years. Using some tools of quantitative and qualitative analysis, I try to dissect the process of production and interpretation of the corporatist discourse, and then relate it to the evolution of the economy and the interests of the local economic elites. Contrary to the widespread Foucaldian theory, which focuses on the intrinsic structure of discourse, the results suggest that more attention should be paid to the context in explaining the process of discourse production

Choosing a legal framework for Spanish stock markets, 1800-1936

The paper analyses the legal transfer of formal rules regulating stock markets in Spain between 1800 and 1936. We argue that the transfer of French legislation in the 1830s provoked a “transplant effect”, which generated serious distortions in Spanish financial markets. As a result, Spain developed a unique system in which official French style stock markets coexisted with Anglo-Saxon style free markets and small traditional markets, reminiscent of the ancien regime. This unique schism of systems reflects the result of multiple natural experiments whereby each region constituted its own stock market system. Diverse economic scenarios and path-dependence processes determined different institutional settings. We find that the unparalleled Spanish system was the result of lacking central power, persistence of institutional inertia, and the diversity of Spain´s geographical economy

On state autonomy : pressure groups and public policy in Britain and Spain in a comparative perspective, 1830s-1930s

The paper looks into the relationship between industrial pressure groups and the state, comparing the experiences of Britain and Spain during the 19th and the first third of the 20th century. By analysing the decision-making processes, the collective action of economic groups and the adoption of public policy, I argue that they shared a common pattern: both states were basically autonomous facing the pressure of organized economic interests. I explore some of the causes that could explain such a similar pattern in countries with a very different model of development and also examine the tensions provoked by the strong autonomy of the state, mainly in the Spanish case. From this work it follows that the role of the state should be re-considered and reevaluated in explaining institutional change in western countries during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Pressure groups, Economic elites, Public policy, Big business and government, State, Political economy, Britain, Spain

Choosing a legal framework for Spanish stock markets, 1800-1936

The paper analyses the legal transfer of formal rules regulating stock markets in Spain between 1800 and 1936. We argue that the transfer of French legislation in the 1830s provoked a “transplant effect”, which generated serious distortions in Spanish financial markets. As a result, Spain developed a unique system in which official French style stock markets coexisted with Anglo-Saxon style free markets and small traditional markets, reminiscent of the ancien regime. This unique schism of systems reflects the result of multiple natural experiments whereby each region constituted its own stock market system. Diverse economic scenarios and path-dependence processes determined different institutional settings. We find that the unparalleled Spanish system was the result of lacking central power, persistence of institutional inertia, and the diversity of Spain´s geographical economy.Stock markets, Exchanges, Commercial law, Comparative law, Legal origins, Legal transfer, Legal transplant, Rule of law, Spain

Economic distress and discourse : the rise of a corporatist rhetoric in Northern Spain after World War I

The paper explores the relationship between language and economy, between text and context, through a case study: the Basque region in northern Spain during World War I and the immediate postwar years. Using some tools of quantitative and qualitative analysis, I try to dissect the process of production and interpretation of the corporatist discourse, and then relate it to the evolution of the economy and the interests of the local economic elites. Contrary to the widespread Foucaldian theory, which focuses on the intrinsic structure of discourse, the results suggest that more attention should be paid to the context in explaining the process of discourse production.Economic crisis, Discourse, Language, Communication, Economic elites, Political economy, Rhetoric, Corporatism, World War I, Spain

On state autonomy : pressure groups and public policy in Britain and Spain in a comparative perspective, 1830s-1930s

The paper looks into the relationship between industrial pressure groups and the state, comparing the experiences of Britain and Spain during the 19th and the first third of the 20th century. By analysing the decision-making processes, the collective action of economic groups and the adoption of public policy, I argue that they shared a common pattern: both states were basically autonomous facing the pressure of organized economic interests. I explore some of the causes that could explain such a similar pattern in countries with a very different model of development and also examine the tensions provoked by the strong autonomy of the state, mainly in the Spanish case. From this work it follows that the role of the state should be re-considered and reevaluated in explaining institutional change in western countries during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Respuestas empresariales en el País Vasco ante la crisis económica de 1921

La crisis de 1921 cerró bruscamente en la economía española el ciclo bélico que había comenzado a mediados de 1915. En este trabajo se ofrece una primera aproximación al impacto de esta crisis internacional sobre la economía de una región industrializada de la periferia, el País Vasco. En primer lugar se repasan sus características más notables, luego se analiza su alcance en sectores concretos -siderometalurgia, industria mecánica y construcción naval, otras industrias, minería y navieras-, y finalmente se estudian las estrategias empresariales que las elites económicas pusieron en marcha: la diversificación, la cartelización de determinados sectores, la reducción de los costes laborales, si existieron intentos de modernización del equipamiento tecnológico, desarrollo de redes comerciales y de marketing o construcción de estructuras de organización más eficientes. En general, se trata de comprobar -a través del uso de fuentes empresariales- si, a parte de la búsqueda del arancel, los grandes empresarios industriales españoles desarrollaron estrategias de modernización para hacer frente a la crisis de 1921

Respuestas empresariales en el País Vasco ante la crisis económica de 1921

La crisis de 1921 cerró bruscamente en la economía española el ciclo bélico que había comenzado a mediados de 1915. En este trabajo se ofrece una primera aproximación al impacto de esta crisis internacional sobre la economía de una región industrializada de la periferia, el País Vasco. En primer lugar se repasan sus características más notables, luego se analiza su alcance en sectores concretos –siderometalurgia, industria mecánica y construcción naval, otras industrias, minería y navieras–, y finalmente se estudian las estrategias empresariales que las elites económicas pusieron en marcha: la diversificación, la cartelización de determinados sectores, la reducción de los costes laborales, si existieron intentos de modernización del equipamiento tecnológico, desarrollo de redes comerciales y de marketing o construcción de estructuras de organización más eficientes. En general, se trata de comprobar –a través del uso de fuentes empresariales– si, a parte de la búsqueda del arancel, los grandes empresarios industriales españoles desarrollaron estrategias de modernización para hacer frente a la crisis de 1921.

Respuestas empresariales en el País Vasco ante la crisis económica de 1921.

La crisis de 1921 cerró bruscamente en la economía española el ciclo bélico que había comenzado a mediados de 1915. En este trabajo se ofrece una primera aproximación al impacto de esta crisis internacional sobre la economía de una región industrializada de la periferia, el País Vasco. En primer lugar se repasan sus características más notables, luego se analiza su alcance en sectores concretos -siderometalurgia, industria mecánica y construcción naval, otras industrias, minería y navieras-, y finalmente se estudian las estrategias empresariales que las elites económicas pusieron en marcha: la diversificación, la cartelización de determinados sectores, la reducción de los costes laborales, si existieron intentos de modernización del equipamiento tecnológico, desarrollo de redes comerciales y de marketing o construcción de estructuras de organización más eficientes. En general, se trata de comprobar -a través del uso de fuentes empresariales- si, a parte de la búsqueda del arancel, los grandes empresarios industriales españoles desarrollaron estrategias de modernización para hacer frente a la crisis de 1921.