As the economy becomes more centralized, the population is on the same path. As a result, it is estimated that by 2050 66% of the world’s population will live in large cities, as already does 73% of the European population. By 2030, it is estimated that up to 40% of the population of the Spanish State will survive in cities with over 300,000 inhabitants. Meanwhile, 80 percent of global GDP is generated in the 600 largest cities, where extreme prosperity and poverty are presented to us critically.

Cities certainly offer more opportunities than small rural villages, both to find jobs and to enable their children to complete their studies. Women also feel more comfortable in cities than in small backward villages, both in freedom and in the search for jobs. Also, basic services are more available in a city than in small villages: health, education…

In the Basque Country, the population is also being centralized in the largest cities and the same phenomenon of the world has approached us. In fact, Bilbao has always had the strength to attract the population, as has Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pamplona and the A.A.D. de Iparralde; while Donostia-San Sebastián also in recent years is taking important steps in this centralization process, although Gipuzkoa remains a fairly balanced territory.

In short, the small towns here are also being evicted because the people find in the capitals comfortable and better public services. Consequently, the configuration of major cities is changing according to their economic activity. In fact, in these cities, the economy is taking place on two major axes. On the one hand, the advanced economic sectors, in which there are research centers and business centers of developed technology, with attractive salaries and work for students departing from universities – not for all – and on the other hand, businesses aimed at tourism, especially in hospitality.

On the other hand, traditional trade is disappearing as a small bourgeoisie linked to these businesses. This class provided important social cohesion to the society of the city and was very important. In the face of this situation, our authorities want us to believe that they want to defend and strengthen this sector, but they have a counter-policy, because they put red carpet on the big shopping centres.

In this evolution of the economy, most of the stores in our cities are franchises. In fact, instead of small traditional shops, franchises of all kinds, related to multinationals, have been introduced. And the same is happening with the accommodations we have always known, as their owners are also making investment funds, especially in cities where the impact of tourism is significant. It must be stressed that these sectors need cheap, unskilled labour, all of which are on the periphery of cities, and much.

What can we do to get out of this situation from the poor peripheries? In my humble opinion, in order to deal with this situation, the Social Economy can play a leading role. To do this, the people of these slums, especially youth, have to organize themselves to put pressure on the municipal authorities and provide economic resources. The first step would be the creation of significant neighborhood associations that, depending on the needs and imaginations of the city, can develop small and robust business projects. There are many experiences in this: Barcelona-Sants, Berlin...