BRANCH OF CATALONIA AS A FACTOR IN ECONOMIC CHANGE IN SPAIN
Spain celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the adoption of its constitution in the midst of a severe crisis of the national model of democracy, the epicenter of which was the Catalan crisis, which shook not only the territorial integrity of the country, but also its economic well-being. Based on the foregoing, the aim of the article is to study the economic consequences and threats to Spain in the event Catalonia becomes independent. The scientific significance of the work lies in a detailed examination of the industrial and economic potential of Catalonia through the prism of centrifugal processes that are gaining strength in Spain. The practical value of the work lies in the fact that in the context of the hypothetical disconnection of Catalonia from Spain, the threats and consequences that the economy of the country as a whole and the new autonomy in particular will face are considered. The research methodology includes analysis, synthesis, methods of forecasting and modeling, comparison and justification. The results obtained made it possible to ascertain the decisive role of Catalonia in the development of production, construction, and the stimulation of the hospitality and services sectors. In addition, special emphasis has been placed on increasing social tension caused by budget cuts, rising poverty and social inequality. Negatively, the independence of Catalonia will affect the ability of the Spanish economy to modernize industry, expand high-tech industries and generally support the innovative development vector. The conclusions and assumptions made are a logical addition and contribution to the justification of the Catalonia's disconnection scenarios, a thorough study of which will allow us to identify ways to mitigate the negative consequences and prevent the risks of high losses.