Santiago Lago Peñas Presents the 2026 Yearbook of the Galician Economic Forum: Strong Economic Performance Amid Long-Term Demographic Challenges
Actualizado: 22 jul
Professor Santiago Lago Peñas, Chair of Public Finance at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Director of the Galician Economic Forum and IDEAGOV, presented the 2026 Yearbook of the Galician Economic Forum, highlighting the sustained strength of Galicia's economy while warning that demographic decline remains the region's greatest long-term challenge.
Lago Peñas noted that Galicia has followed a positive growth trajectory since 2000, supported largely by the strength of its family-owned businesses and export-oriented sectors. However, he stressed that maintaining this performance will become increasingly difficult unless the region successfully addresses its demographic crisis.
The presentation featured Arcadi España, Spain's Minister of Finance, who described the reform of the regional financing system as a historic opportunity and called for greater dialogue between the central government and Spain's autonomous communities to reach a broad agreement on a new funding model.
The event also brought together Inés Rey, Mayor of A Coruña; Víctor Nogueira, President of the Galician Economic Forum; Francisco Botas, CEO of ABANCA; and José Luis Gómez, editor of the Yearbook. Their interventions addressed key issues including regional financing, geopolitical uncertainty, the role of the financial sector, housing, artificial intelligence and the future of Galicia's economy.
The 2026 Yearbook offers an in-depth reflection on the economic, institutional and social challenges facing Galicia, reaffirming the Galician Economic Forum's commitment to fostering evidence-based debate on the region's future development.
More information: https://foroeconomicodegalicia.es/actividad.html?a=308&c=1
