The decline of the Spanish national identity during the economic crisis

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of the strength and nature of the Spanish national identity, considering the years 2002 and 2015, before and after the economic crisis starting in 2008. A correlation between economic factors and Spanish national identity, has been found with this identity having weakened during the analyzed period and with certain civic elements losing weight. To test the specific significance of the economic crisis on this change, an analysis of fictitious cohorts is carried out, relating change in purchasing power of wages for different age groups to changes in the feeling of national identity. The article also relates the evolution of the feeling of Spanish pride with other individual sociodemographic and political factors. Finally, the change in the nature of national identity is analyzed.