[banqjls]

As a Spanish person I can’t even imagine what would make someone come here to live - I suppose you’re already exceedingly wealthy?

Almost all of my friends with higher educations have left for northern countries, as the situation here is untenable for young people. Of course if you have money that’s not an issue… and evidently the kind of money that makes that non an issue can only obtained in places like the US.

[kurofune]

Spain is one of the best places in the world to live if you have a steady income, you don't have to be wealthy to be happy. I've lived there for many years working for Spanish companies, with spanish salaries.

But seeing how you blame mass immigration, mostly uneducated and low-skilled workers, for the fall in wages of the educated people leaving the country, I wonder if your vision isn't too myopic and narrow on economic issues due to political bias.

As for the struggles of the young people in the country, because real state is inaccessible, I agree with you, but it's a problem in most capital cities of the civilised world.

[banqjls]

I didn’t blame mass immigration for the fall of wages of educated people. Maybe you misunderstood what I said. It’s uneducated young people who suffer from that. I have clarified my other comment.

[kurofune]

>Almost all of my friends with higher educations have left for northern countries, as the situation here is untenable for young people.

>Bottom of the barrel wages for natives are the result of uncontrolled mass migration - we have received millions of immigrants in the last decade, which has basically destroyed wages.

Putting those two sentences of yours together triggered that thought in my mind, I apologise if I was wrong.

[lucyjojo]

when you say "immigration has destroyed wages" you mean "immigration has lowered the floor of low wages" but you also imply "businesses CAN pay higher wages but WON'T".

i wouldn't blame the immigrants there. the whole thing managed correctly would be (or actually already is) a huge boon for the country. the suffering of the young and poor seems to be a choice made by the greedy.

[banqjls]

Why would they pay better wages if they can choose not to? It’s simple supply and demand.

[lucyjojo]

then raise minimum wage for these workers.

then if you tell me "cannot afford it, not realistic", we can conclude immigrants were not the problem.

[ty6853]

Well that explains it doesn't it? One can cheaply employ your youth at bottom barrel wages and buy up or rent the real estate without competition with native professionals. And I'm not damning anyone who does that, it helps the locals more than them not coming at all. The Spanish government has more or less set up the incentives to play out this way -- that Spain is a place to come on holiday or to retire but not a place for native educated professionals to partake in business.

[banqjls]

Bottom of the barrel wages for the uneducated natives are the result of uncontrolled mass migration - we have received millions of immigrants in the last decade, which has basically destroyed wages, and has made the poorest suffer.

On the other hand real estate is held by wealthy old natives and laws are enacted to make sure that real estate increases in price forever, the young be damned - no one cares about them since our population pyramid means they’ll always be a minority.

[toomuchtodo]

I’m very interested in understanding the challenges in building more affordable housing in Spain. Do you have any resources you’d recommend or be willing to discuss more offline?

[banqjls]

https://www.bbvaresearch.com/publicaciones/espana-motivos-tr...

From last year. There is a version in English.

Regarding renting, it’s legally almost impossible to kick out a squatter, which means most people choose to leave their empty homes closed instead of renting them, which, added to mass immigration, has led to a surge in rent prices.

[toomuchtodo]

It’s a complex, nuanced topic, but the cost of living in most of Spain is much lower than the US. Healthcare in the US for a family of four costs me >$20k/year. You can live comfortably in Spain for ~1.5x that in euros.