History
The Círculo de Economía was founded in 1958 in Barcelona. It was created in order to contribute to the economic and social life of Spain, promoting the desires for liberalization and openness, and the desires to favour the integration of our country into the new European Community of free, developed nations created after the signature of the Treaty of Rome.
The Círculo was originated in a typical university club -the Club Comodin- in 1951, which was formed by young university students and businessmen from Barcelona. The intellectual influence of the teacher and historian Jaume Vicens Vives upon this group of youngsters was determinant, as it made them get in contact with a group of intellectuals and young economists that, linked to the world of culture, university or administration, were starting to renew the political and economical ideas of the time.
The Círculo was originated in a typical university club -the Club Comodin- in 1951, which was formed by young university students and businessmen from Barcelona. The intellectual influence of the teacher and historian Jaume Vicens Vives upon this group of youngsters was determinant, as it made them get in contact with a group of intellectuals and young economists that, linked to the world of culture, university or administration, were starting to renew the political and economical ideas of the time.
From the beginning, this combination of people from the world of business, culture, university and administration who shared democratic ideals as well as ideals of economic openness turned the Círculo de Economía into a meeting point and a spot for freedom.
The constant search for dialogue and the impulse of innovating initiatives allowed the Círculo to acquire credibility and develop during the seventies. From a policy of economic stabilisation and liberalization during 1959, our entity has promoted or supported those initiatives, measures and policies that have contributed to the modernization of our economy and to the progress and welfare of our society. A proof of this is the support to the economic stabilisation and liberalization during 1959, whose contents were explained for the first time six months in advance at the Círculo by Professor Joan Sarda, who was the Director of the Study Department of the Bank of Spain at that time.
The history of the Círculo de Economía is reflected in the book entitled 'Círculo de Economía 1958-1983. A trajectory of modernisation and coexistence' ('Círculo de Economía 1958-1983. Una trayectoria de modernización y convivencia'), published in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the entity.
From the very beginning, the Círculo de Economía proved its willingness to approach and get integrated into Europe as a model of liberal, advanced and democratic society. This is why, throughout the years, the Círculo has backed and promoted public and private initiatives that, taking into account the opinions, concerns and criteria of the Catalan economic world, have been transferred to the rest of the Spanish society in order to support that European vocation of the Círculo.
In a document entitled 'Basic criteria' ('Criterios básicos') (1968) establishing the medium-term and long-term objectives that would fix the position of the Círculo with regards to the economic, political, social and cultural fields, the Círculo claimed that 'Spain had to get associated with the European Economic Community as soon as possible, keeping up its interests, making a first move towards its integration as full-right member'. Besides, the 14th of July 1972, the Círculo de Economía was one of the promoters and subscribers of the so-called 'Documento de los 13' (Document of the 13 - document signed by 13 civic and business entities seeking for the addition of Spain to the Community) applying for the integration of Spain in the European Community. This and other initiatives, such as the publication of the book entitled 'the European option for Spanish economy' ('La opción europea para la economía española') (April 1974) and the communiqué supporting the permanence of Spain in the NATO (March 1986), reinforced the European, international vocation of this institution.
Thus, the Círculo de Economía organised a meeting by the end of 1998, presided by the President of the Government, Mr. Jose Maria Aznar, during which it analysed the peseta within the frame of the Euro and the demands for Spanish economy.
Besides, during the Costa Brava Meetings, today known as Círculo de Economía Meetings, the Círculo has always proved its concern about the position of Spain in the international economic context. For example, the third edition of the Meetings (1965) was entitled 'Spain before Europe: demands for our development'. From then on, the platform of the Círculo has hosted more than 500 national and international personalities.
