Business Trajectories in the History of Spain: Sectors, Figures and Transformations

This edited volume offers a fresh look at how business in Spain has evolved from the 18th century to today. It examines how entrepreneurs, families, foreign investors, and public institutions shaped the country’s shift from a rural economy to an industrialized society. Through detailed case studies, from steel and coal to tourism and agriculture, it shows how business decisions were influenced by politics, social change, and global capital.

The book challenges the idea of Spanish economic ＂backwardness＂ by highlighting innovation, resilience, and strategic adaptation. It blends economic history and business studies to provide a rich, multidimensional view of Spain’s business landscape. The book will appeal to scholars, students, and researchers of economics, business studies, and economic and business history, as well as to anyone interested in how historical business practices inform today’s economic challenges.

María Vázquez-Fariñas is a Lecturer of Economic History at the University of Málaga, Spain. She holds a PhD in Social and Legal Sciences and a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Cádiz, Spain. Her research focuses on 19th-century Cádiz’s business history, including the wine trade, port development, and slavery, as well as public services and networked enterprises in modern Spain. She has published widely in leading journals and with international publishers such as Brill, Routledge, and Palgrave. Vázquez-Fariñas also serves on editorial boards and has taught across multiple universities, combining academic excellence with innovation in teaching.

Francisco Cabrera-Gallardo is an Interim Assistant Professor of History and Economic Institutions at the University of Jaén, Spain. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management, awarded with the Platinum Curriculum Prize, and an MBA. He previously held a research fellowship at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). His academic interests lie at the intersection of economic history and institutional development, with a focus on teaching and research in Spanish and international contexts.