Hunger and football: the distraction that won't hide Spain's economic slump

Hunger and football: the distraction that won't hide Spain's economic slump

The euphoria over the success of the Spanish national football team, dubbed by some as "Lamine's Spain", contrasts with growing unease over the stagnation of the real economy. While fans celebrate the goals, the productive fabric has been slowing down for months, a slowdown that, according to industry sources, will take time to reach public employment and consumption.

Bread and circuses 2.0: a proge version?

Mass distraction is nothing new, but some analysts point to an evolution of the old panem et circenses. The contemporary version, more inclusive and tinged with identity politics, works just as effectively: keeping the population entertained while structural problems worsen. I don't recommend putting a username in an analysis, but the point is that football acts as an opiate for the people, even as the shopping basket gets pricier and wages fail to keep up.

The delayed effect of the business slowdown

The real economy, particularly the part that does not depend on the public sector, is practically at a standstill. Yet its effects will not be felt immediately: the lag between business contraction and the impact on citizens' wallets is around a year. This explains why the football festivities coincide with a bleak economic diagnosis that has not yet materialised in widespread unemployment or defaults.

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The uncomfortable question is whether the euphoria over the ball will manage to lull public opinion long enough for the crisis to take hold. History suggests the circus works, but it always has an expiry date.