What percentage of public spending is allocated to elderly people? The tendency in European countries has been to increase the weight of the resources allocated to this group.

How much do countries invest in culture? In the last decade, the governmental authorities in Spain have reduced the funding of cultural services.

Spain’s Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela, describes in this interview the strengths of the current system and highlights those fronts being worked on with regard to the medium and long term.

Science is a very relevant activity in economic terms, which also has a very favourable social perception. However, Spain invests less in R&D than the rest of the European countries, confirming a gap between citizens' attitudes and the will of politicians and businesses.

How much do countries invest in R&D? In more dynamic economies, the business sector is the major funder, whereas in Southern Europe, the governments lead investment.

Economic crises bring with them numerous political decisions that affect healthcare systems. In this article by the Social Observatory of “la Caixa”, we analyse the effects of the crisis on the reform of the long-term care system in European countries.

In this interview, John O’Hagan explains the numerous benefits that the arts bring to society, from their contribution to the formation of a collective identity to their positive impact on the economy.

What is the cause behind such a high disparity in the participation rates in cultural offerings financed using public funds? Does this have a direct relationship with the population’s level of education?