This analysis, which links public tenders from the central administration with the population of each territory, shows that the province of Alicante, being the fourth most populous in Spain, has received the second lowest per capita investment in the last fifteen years. The investment per inhabitant during this period was 754 euros, significantly below the national average of 1.634 euros.
“"It is “the most flagrant anomaly in the system of territorial distribution of Spanish public spending”, without equivalent in the rest of the country."
The Ineca study not only quantifies the problem but also warns about its consequences for a province whose economic activity, especially industry and tourism, largely depends on the quality of its transport infrastructure. Crucial projects such as the Mediterranean Corridor, the improvement of railway lines, airport access, and the renovation of the road network remain pending.
This lack of investment not only implies a direct economic cost but also an opportunity cost, as delays in strategic projects place the territory at a clear competitive disadvantage. Ineca proposes an “explicit, quantified, and binding corrective plan” to compensate for this historical deficit, although the report points out the lack of clear leadership to articulate a firm demand to the Administration.
The persistence of this structural underinvestment, regardless of economic circumstances or changing governments, is facilitated by limited social mobilization. This allows the province of Alicante, despite its demographic and economic weight, to be relegated to the last positions in public investment, with a cost that falls directly on its inhabitants.
