The Poor Economy of Everyday Life

Against the backdrop of soaring profits at technology companies, oil firms and banks, the everyday economy looks far harsher. This September, 1.2 million children living in poverty will begin the school year without a school meal grant.

Educo, a foundation that has defended children’s rights for more than 30 years, says more than 2.2 million children and teenagers attending school in Spain are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Yet school meal grants and other assistance reach only 981,000 students, according to the foundation’s director general, Pilar Orenes.

Investment in meal grants reached €659.4 million in the last school year, up 2.6% from the previous year. Educo is demanding universal, free school meals for all students. The proposal would cost about €6.166 billion per school year, equivalent to 0.37% of Spain’s GDP. That would raise public education spending from 4.34% to 4.71% of GDP, still below Sweden’s 6.9% and Finland’s 6.3%. Both countries guarantee school meals during compulsory education.

Sweden and Finland also collect more through taxes and social contributions, which account for more than 42% of their economies, compared with 37% in Spain, according to Eurostat. In Spain, attempts by the progressive coalition government to tax the sharply increased profits of oil companies and banks have faced fierce resistance from the companies in Congress and the courts.

The consequences of child poverty extend beyond school meals. UNICEF says it affects one-third of children and teenagers, while Spain’s statistics institute estimates that nearly 450,000 children cannot eat meat, fish or equivalent proteins. The Economic and Social Council puts the annual cost of child poverty at €63 billion, or 5.1% of GDP. Its president, Antón Costas, supports a universal child-raising benefit to help cover education, food, housing and care costs. Youth and Children’s Minister Sira Rego has proposed a monthly payment of €200 in the 2027 budget. Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said last month that the benefit “will become a reality in Spain.”

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will become a reality in Spain