Construction and services boosted the Catalan economy during the second quarter. Specifically, according to data from the Institute of Statistics of Catalonia (Idescat) published this Friday, the gross domestic product (GDP, the indicator that measures the size of an economy) grew by 3% in Catalonia compared to the same period a year ago. The figure places the Catalan economy above the increase experienced in the rest of the State. The numbers are remarkable in a complicated context marked by the effects derived from the war in Iran and, above all, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Catalonia has a problem that has been identified for some time. And it's not that they do little or bad work: according to the latest regional accounting data from the INE, Productivity growth per hour worked in Catalonia is above the Spanish average and, especially, above that of the Community of Madrid. This trend is largely due to the greater weight of industry, which contributes more added value, investment, and exports than in Madrid, where services are even more prevalent. In any case, the Spanish capital leads in average salaries, due to the high concentration of headquarters of large companies and, therefore, of well-paid managers and executives. But the real problem is wealth redistribution: Madrid leads the way—the capital city effect plays a significant role—with a larger share of the wealth per capita. The second and third positions are occupied by two regions with their own financing models: the Basque Country, which also has a large industrial sector, and Navarre. The solution? There isn't a single one, but some could include reviving initiatives such as the pact to increase the weight of industry, given the advantages this activity provides to the economy as a whole; Promoting the creation of larger or more technologically advanced companies (more value and higher wages) and a regional funding model that, while perhaps not unique, is certainly fairer. Little...