Vacation In Spain

Serge Ibaka says he is open to playing in Spain

Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Serge Ibaka is willing to entertain the idea of playing in Spain, The Oklahoman reports.

While on a recent vacation in the country, Ibaka told a radio show he would be open to returning to the country in the event of a prolonged lockout, according to the newspaper. Ibaka played two seasons in Spain before joining Oklahoma City.

“If there is a lockout, and there are not many complications to play in the [collective bargaining agreement], I would like to return here to play,” Ibaka is quoted as saying.

Other NBA players have expressed thoughts similar to Ibaka’s. Toronto Raptors wing Sonny Weems left an offer on the table to join a team in Europe, and Kobe Bryant and Amare Stoudemire are linked to a possible barnstorming tour through China.

European Vacation | Economy of Spain

Spain Economy

Now the 8th biggest economic power, by the nominal GDP, Spain has come a long way and has gradually evolved and prospered, after the fading out of the regulated economy of Francoism in 1975.

The deregulating moves implemented by the Francoism, such as the large infrastructure projects together with the opening towards tourism, have culminated in the unforeseen economic rise, also known as the “Spanish Miracle”. Democracy was installed relatively late, but even so, Spain’s economic creativity, and that of its citizens soon helped the country to recover.

Now member of the EU, former European Community (1986), Spain had to adjust its economy and also make improvements to its industrial base, along with revising its economic legislation. Infrastructures were improved, with the help of funds coming from the European Regional Development Fund, while an increase in the GDP was registered, which reduced unemployment from 23% to 10%, and inflation to less than 3%.

Having a population of 40 million and a Gross Domestic Product of .352 trillion in 2007, according to the World Fact book, Spain was among the first countries to change to Euro currency. Starting with 1999 economic growth was averaged at more than 3% yearly, which helped the country keep its stability and prosperity.

In 2007 Spain’s economy experienced an underlying growth, by 3.8%, with service sector making up 67% of the country’s economy, industry sector 30% and agriculture sector close to 3%.

Despite this growth, there are some chances that Spain may be subject to some problems, due to the rate of unemployment, still high, at 8.6 per cent, and surely to rise above this rate, more than 10 per cent by the end 2008. This situation is made worse by the overgrowing number of aged population and declining birthrate. As member of the EU, and with a Euro strong, outside the boundaries of the EU exports are uncompetitive. Now Spain is undergoing the largest trade deficit worldwide the housing market and domestic demand being troublesome.

More than that, another issue Spain is confronted with, has to do with income generated by the structural funds of the EU. Spain and Ireland were the two beneficiaries of funds from the EU, to help boost their economies. However, having a per-capita GDP of ,000, and since poorer states have started to join the EU, these funds are likely to be re-allocated.

Focus on Spain

Hispania

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Frommer's Spain 2011

Spain is different