Pessimism about the economic future of Asturias | Radio Asturias

Asturian economists convey a pessimistic impression about the economic situation of the Principality in the short and medium term. It is the main conclusion of the “ECONOMETER” that today the College of Economists of Asturias and that it aims to be an annual socioeconomic barometer of the region in which it is already its second edition.

The study collects the opinion of 232 collegiate economists, around 14% of the collective, and was prepared between March 10 and May 18, therefore it collects data and impressions that include part of the period of the State of Alarm and confinement . Economics professionals give their personal opinion on their own situation and that of Asturias in the document.

Thus, more than 80% transmit global distrust and are pessimistic about the general economic situation, they believe that it has worsened in the last year and that it will be worse in the coming months due to the direct consequences of the pandemic.

With all these opinions, a general socio-economic confidence index is elaborated that is very negative.

By subject, their perception, with respect to employment, is that unemployment will continue to increase. Up to 91% have that negative perception that is multiplied by 2 compared to last year with the coronavirus factor as fundamental in this worsening.

They also make a very critical assessment, given the circumstances, of the Principality’s Budget, and up to 74% see it as little or very inadequate to face the situation that will arise in the coming months and have the same opinion on the measures of economic policy that have been put in place in the face of the effects of COVID-19.

Economists also consider that the main factors in the competitiveness of our economy are the tax burden (which they describe as very high), the price of energy, and infrastructure and communications.

In a not so negative aspect, they reflect that the effects of the pandemic crisis will not have as much weight in the Asturian economy as in other regions, due to the little weight of tourism and the typology of the productive structure of the region, but they do think that the output will not be immediate and that the effects will last in time (nothing like the “famous” form of “V”).

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