Impact of neo-liberalism in Spain: research from social work in relation to the public system of social services

After the economic crisis, neo-liberal policies in Spain established cuts in the public social welfare systems, which have had to face the increase in social demands from the population with fewer economic and human resources. The effects have been particularly hard on the population. The European Commission, in the Commission Staff Working Document, Country Report Spain 2017, notes an increase in inequality in Spain in spite of its macroeconomic improvement. The article summarises the impact that the economic crisis had on Spanish families and the austerity measures from the neo-liberal policies implemented by the government. Concerned by the social services' capacity to respond to them, the General Council of Social Work carried out Research Projects (2014-2015). Their analysis is presented here. The research started from 32,127 social workers, a confidence level of 95.5%, and a margin of error of +/- 3 in the worst-case scenario of P = Q. The sample comprised 2406 professionals. The results can be extrapolated to the totality of social workers in Spain and confirm the serious consequences the austerity measures have had on the population, social welfare systems and social workers who have dealt with neo-liberalism using social critical theory and militant practice.