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Productivity per hour worked has returned to the growth path experienced in the 2014–2018 period. Following a worrying stagnation during the two years leading up to the pandemic, this indicator got back to an annual growth rate of 1.1% between 2022 and 2024, while the same indicator stagnated in the wider EMU.

Until a few years ago, the debate on artificial intelligence (AI) was confined to specialized circles. Today, it is a conversation across companies, governments, and public opinion.

The way some economic policy measures are designed results in unnecessary increases in production costs in Spain, hinders companies' growth, discriminates between individuals in similar circumstances, leads to lost tax revenue and can even affect people's health.

Following several years of relative calm, global debt has been steadily growing since the 2008 financial crisis. Aside from the question of public debt, corporate debt grew sharply from 73% of GDP in 2008 to peak at 102% in 2020, at the height of the pandemic.

Although energy and borrowing costs may be falling, businesses will have other challenges to contend with in 2024, including the risk of changes in labor regulation and taxation.

Retaking the path of convergence toward the most advanced economies will require a great deal of success in the investment of the European NGEU funds and in the reforms, and also time, with results that will be measurable in the medium and long term.

This year had started off very well for banks. In fact, the share price of banks in the eurozone had risen by 20% by Wednesday, March 8; however, in one week these gains have been wiped out. The failure of three banks in the US and the sale of Credit Suisse to UBS have caused turbulence in the global banking system.

Economic progress and welfare depend in the long run on innovation, productivity, and employment. The digital revolution and the energy transition are an opportunity for Spanish society, but also a considerable challenge.