The country continued to have a rocky path to economic stability, dropping to a very low point in 2013 while other European nations continued to climb. The country turned around their economic decline quickly and has been unwaveringly rising since 2014. This economic rise has been a result in significant improvements in trade during the last five years. Spain now has the fourteenth largest economy in the world when measured by gross domestic product and ranks fifth among the European nations. Despite improvement in most economic areas, the unemployment rate remains very high. Thirty-two year old Sandra Gómez told Financial Times, “There is more awareness of how difficult it is to find work if you are not prepared. Everyone knows that you have to study, that you have to train and that you have to work hard. And that you must never choose the easy path.” (Financial Times, 2017) As a young Spaniard, Sandra faced the effects of the unemployment rate firsthand when looking for a job. It was very difficult and she expressed hope that these issues will be resolved for the future generations. Another issue that the country faces is its extreme pollution issue which proves that there is still a long way to go in developing factory and transportation systems that benefit the environment. Spain is the most polluted country in all of Europe. The people have shown that they want to help by holding …show more content…
Along with the European union, Spain is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the World Trade Organization. Despite thriving relationships between Spain and the other countries in Europe, the trade level dropped to its lowest point in years. Many other countries’ trade levels also fell during this time period. However, Spain’s trade and gross domestic product levels increased dramatically from 2009 to 2011. During 2009, Spain had a net earning of $215.7 billion brought in from exports. Unfortunately, soon after, Spain made a quick turn for the worse. In 2011 there was a sudden trade decline. A sudden decline occurred again in 2013. The top exports for trade in Spain are motor vehicles, medicines, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. Spain has created and developed strong relationships with many other countries in Europe along with the rest of the