Wendy WilliamsEXPATS contribute more to the welfare state in Spain that they get back.
A new study on has revealed that non-Spaniards actually put in ‘much more’ than they receive, especially in the key areas of education, health and pensions which make up 80 per cent of spending.
In fact the study ‘Immigration and the Welfare State in Spain’ by La Caixa shows that expats, who now make up 12 per cent of the population, use just 5.6 per cent of social services leaving a ‘positive net contribution’.
“This reality is a direct contrast to the general perception society has and which needs to be reversed through information and education”, said Director General Jaime Lanaspa from la Caixa.
Part of the imbalance arises as immigrants are generally not very well informed of the services offered by the government and what they are entitled to.
Spain is now the country with the second highest rate of immigration in Europe as the number of immigrants in Spain has risen from just 2.28 per cent of the population in 2000 to 12.17 per cent in 2010.
So what is unfair? The welfare state is like insurance. You pay in for cover if you need it, if not, there is no refund.