Mass tourism is one of the most striking developments in postwar western societies, involving economic, social, cultural, and anthropological factors. For many countries it has become a significant, if not the primary, source of income for the resident population. The Mediterranean basin, which has long been a very popular destination, is explored here in the first study to scrutinize the region as a whole and over a long period of time. In particular, it investigates the area's economic and social networks directly involved in tourism, which includes examining the most popular spots that attract tourists and the crucial actors, such as hotel entrepreneurs, travel agencies, charter companies, and companies developing seaside resort networks. This important volume presents a fascinating picture of the economics of tourism in one of the world's most visited destinations.

This book analyses the major economic crisis that began in 20078 and continues in 2013. Carles Manera explains that it is not just a financial crisis, caused primarily by the banking sector, as many commentators claim, but a systemic crisis caused in part by overproduction, falls in business profits, environmental problems, and a stubborn insistence by political and monetary authorities on economic policies driven by austerity. Providing examples from the economic history of western nations, which provide economists and social scientists with essential reference for understanding the complexities behind this Great Recession, the author proposes economic solutions to end the crisis that are at odds with policies proposed and acted on by major European governments, led by Germany. Manera thus adopts a heterodox approach -- a "subversive view -- making this book stand out not only from governmental economic policy-making but taking a stance far from conventional academic literature on economics. Professor Manera is highly critical of the economic policy coming out of Berlin and Brussels, in which ultra-neoliberal orthodoxy is the predominant form of economic action. He is of the firm opinion that this wrong path will only prolong the crisis for the most vulnerable members of society and for the middle classes, which make up the economic consumer power-house of the European economy. A prime objective of the work is foster a committed viewpoint and engagement by all European nation states whereby Germany should lead Europe out of this Great Recession (rather than leading Germany only out) and that the European Central Bank should broaden substantively its objectives and concentrate on policies that support economic growth. Published in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies.