Catalonia and the rich breaking away from the poor | Letters
by Letters from Economics | The Guardian on (#36E23)
Readers respond to Catalonia's declaration of independence
Paul Mason's normally incisive journalism seems lacking in his latest piece on regional self-determination (G2, 24 October). The common thread linking separatist movements in Catalonia, Lombardy and Veneto is rich regions objecting to subsidising poorer parts of their respective countries. What's more, the core message from Brexiters is that "we want our money back" because people are "fed up with subsidising less prosperous parts of Europe".
What we lack in this debate is any appreciation of the benefits of solidarity, with richer regions/countries working hard to help poorer areas catch up.
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