Evaluate the social and economic developments in Spain between 1982 and 2000.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the social and economic developments in Spain between 1982 and 2000. Candidates may evaluate reforms in the fields of education, public health and pension services. Regarding economic developments, candidates may refer to the re-addressing of the budget to new areas; the public investments in infrastructure; the progressive tax system applied until 1992 and the conservative economic policies implemented later to reduce the public deficit and to reactivate private activities. Candidates may also refer to Spain joining the European Economic Community and later the Euro. These must be made relevant to the question. Candidates may offer equal coverage of social and economic developments, or they may prioritize their evaluation of one of them. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the social and economic developments in Spain between 1982 and 2000. Few responses were seen to this question and they tended to be from the scripts written in Spanish. Some good depth of historical knowledge was provided on key developments. Weaker candidates tended to give narratives which were very focused on political events in Spain during this period.