Spanish mountain in capitalist developement, 1860-1991: secure peripheralization, conditional spread

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to undertake a comparative analysis of the demographic evolution of Spanish mountain areas and county towns for the 1860-1991 period. On the basis of these empirical results, it is discussed the applicability of the argument according to which spatial polarization is mitigated by spread effects that favour the development of the backward areas. The main conclusion is that, although the peripheralization of the mountain is secure, spread effects arrive only on condition that some technological, institutional, ecological and demographic requisites are fulfilled. Therefore it is propounded a broader theoretical frame (belonging to evolutionary political economy) for the study of the diverse historical paths followed by peripheries. Finally, it is presented a preliminary application of this approach to Spanish mountain for the mentioned period.