MADRID A Global City

MADRID, A GLOBAL CITY
Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest municipality in both the Community of

Madrid and Spain as a whole. The city has almost 3.2 million inhabitants with
a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in
the European Union(EU) after London and Berlin, and its monocentric metropolitan area is
the third-largest in the European Union after those of London and Paris. The municipality
itself covers an area of 604.3 km2
Present-day Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times. Its population was first
Iberian and then Roman. It is believed the original settlement was called Matrice. Madrid
was not mentioned in history until the 10th century, when there was already a castle or fort
at the site of the present-day Royal Palace. The fort was occupied by the Moors, who
named it Mayrit (later Madrid). The walls of this settlement are still visible today.
The Moors kept control of Madrid until it was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI.
An improving Spanish economy led to a demographic boom in Madrid in the late 1990s and
the early 21st century with international immigration. Madrid has long attracted immigrants
from around the world. Nearly 84% of the city's population are Spaniards, while those of
other origins account for more than 16% of the population.
The largest immigrant groups in Madrid include:
 Ecuadorian: 104,000
 Romanian: 53,000
 Bolivian: 44,000
 Colombian: 36,000
 Peruvian: 35,000
 Chinese: 35,000
 Moroccan: 33,000
 Dominican: 20,000
 Brazilian: 15,000
 Paraguayan: 14,000
There are also large groups of Filipinos, Bulgarians, Indians, Italians, Argentines,
Senegalese, Poles and Equatorial Guineans in the city. Immigrants are largely
concentrated in specific districts of Madrid, including Usera (28.4%), Centro (27%),
Carabanchel (23%),
Madrid is a wonderful city that is a pleasure to live in, with great restaurants, lively bars, interesting art
galleries and two world-famous football teams.

Madrid is the commercial and political capital of Spain, and although the centre is convincingly
international it retains a distinctly Latin feel. Foreigners have no need to fear the pressures of a high-speed
lifestyle that are so often attached to other Western capitals.

While retirees searching for sunnier shores and a relaxing descent into their twilight years may not relish
the prospect of emigrating to Madrid, it is beyond a doubt the place to go for those looking to further their
career in Spain while capitalising on an attractive quality of life.

The economy of Spain was ravaged at the hands of the global financial crisis, but the country has
recovered substantially. Madrid is the best city to find a job in the country, boasting both large multinational
businesses and a fair amount of direct foreign investment.

The price of food, eating out and drinking is cheaper than in many other European cities. That said,
average salaries are also generally inferior to those in other major European capitals.
In terms of accommodation, people will find that quality housing in Madrid can be difficult to find for a good
price, and it is important to know where to search, how to negotiate and how to make a deal quickly,
knowledgeably and efficiently.

The healthcare is considered one of the best in Europe, and the Spanish National Health System (SNS) is
available for free for all employees in Spain or EU citizens. The public education system is also well
regarded, although many expat families choose to send their children to one of the many private schools
that have bilingual or full English curriculum.
With the good schools and ample activities on offer, Madrid is a good city to bring up children, and its
appealing weather means that they have plenty of opportunities to entertain themselves in one of the city's
many parks. Do note, however, that August can be very hot and air conditioning is a must, while winters
are cold, with the occasional snowfall drifting down every other year.
The cuisine of the Community of Madrid is an amalgamation of the cuisines of various

regions of Spain developed, in part, by mass migration to the capital city starting during the
reign of King Felipe II. As the city grew, it incorporated the culinary traditions of
the municipalities it absorbed into the area now known as the Community of Madrid.
The smell of local cooking is frequently compared to that of food fried in vegetable
oil: churros, calamares a la romana, tortilla de patatas, bocadillos de calamares, patatas
bravas, chopitos, gallinejas, among other traditional dishes, which can be smelled cooking
no matter the time of day.
People might find different kinds of jobs for example, hotel or service industry, restaurants,
customer service, teaching foreign languages, translators, sales and marketing, beauty
therapists, interior designers, singers, dancers, entertainers, gardening jobs, villa cleaning
jobs, bar jobs and bar work, hairdressing jobs, shop assistants, cashiers and retail work in
English and British goods shops, graduate jobs, taxi service, driving jobs including
removals, restaurant jobs such as chefs, waiters and waitresses, fitness jobs, beautician
jobs, pet care jobs, personal trainers, health care assistants, business services such as
graphic design, IT and computer jobs, computer repair, contractors, babysitting, nanny
jobs, au pair jobs, child care jobs, housekeeping, finance jobs, security jobs, accounting
jobs, mechanics, insurance sales positions, hospitality jobs.
Some of the products produced in Madrid are handicrafts such as jugs to flower pots,
window boxes and tiles, leather products such as jackets, bags, wallets, belts and shoes,
silk shawls, embroidery, food and drink like wines, cheese, olive oil, ham.
Madrid trades with 187 countries around the world which form part of the Madrid Union.
Among these countries we can mention China, Colombia, Cuba, República Checa, Korea,
Egipto, Francia, Alemania, Grecia, Hungría, India, Iran, Irland, Mexico, Marruecos,
Singapore, Suiza, Usa, etc.
Globalization could be defined as the increasing integration of activities—

especially economic activities—among nations around the world. The driving
forces have been improvements in technology (especially in transportation and
communication); a desire by people to take advantage of the opportunities
provided (whether through trade, migration, investment, and acquisition of
knowledge); and in recent decades, the lowering of barriers to international
trade and capital flows.
Most simply put, Globalization is the interconnectedness, the integration, and
interdependence that countries around the world have developed. Is globalization
good? Or is it bad? Just like anything and everything, the effects of globalization
can have either positive and negative effects on the political, economical, social, or
cultural aspect participating countries. Spain is no exception. Globalization has
impacted Spain in many ways. The most predominate aspect in which Spain’s
involvement with other countries has affected is the economy of the country: for
better and for worse.
With the evolution of globalization, outsourcing work to countries that reduce
expenses for businesses and corporations is increasingly popular. Outsourcing
does have its benefits: cheaper labor means more workers, more workers mean
more products more quickly, and greater efficiency and productivity allows for a
decrease in the cost of finished product. However, outsourcing can and does result
in a decrease in available jobs to citizens in the country that is outsourcing work.
This is one of the ways in which globalization has harmed Spain, for the country’s
unemployment rate is at 25.1 percent. (Unemployment, 2014)
However, economically, Spain has also benefitted greatly from globalization.
Since 1975, the Real GDP capita in Span has increased by over 10 percent and
continues to rise. This means that Spain is catching up with its European
counterparts and ultimately putting Spain ahead of many other European
countries. (Reflections)
Furthermore, Spain’s economy has benefited from the country having many
interests and interactions with other countries in terms of the banking industry and
large corporations. Spain now controls roughly 20 percent of the banking sector in
Latin America and “subsidiaries of these banks are among the largest banks in
Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela”. Like the banking industry, large
corporations have also invested in Latin America. Some of which include “Repsol-
YPF (energy) and Telefonica (communications)”. (Reflections)
Overall, I believe that Spain has greatly benefited from globalization. The
examples listed above are only a few of many impacts and effects of globalization
on Spain.

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MADRID, A GLOBAL CITY

Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest municipality in both the Community of

The largest immigrant groups in Madrid include:

The cuisine of the Community of Madrid is an amalgamation of the cuisines of various

Globalization could be defined as the increasing integration of activities—

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