The economical and social influence of the ports of Catalonia in its territorial organization. Considerations about the optimisation of its resources

摘要

Catalonia is one of the most important motor powers of the Spanish economy, and its ports are one of the factors of this succesful result. Moreover, it is well known the importance of the ports of Catalonia in the Mediterranean Sea, specially the ports of Barcelona and Tarragona, as a reference when companies need to decide their introduction in the South Europe market. The study of the present situation of the ports of Catalonia can offer a real view of it in order to understand the economical and social influence in the territorial organization of the country. Therefore it is possible to explain the relationship between the ports, considering all kind of ports, and the territorial organization, considering location of population, companies and natural resources. The objectives of the study have been to optimizate the resources of the ports of Catalonia and to give some ideas about which is the best way for the development of them in order to obtain an excellent economical and social efficiency. Nowadays, it is not possible to carry out a study like that without considering quality, so in this case quality is an important item. In the same direction, it has been considered environment, because ports and all the industries in relation with them need a strict control of it.