Global voices, local impact - How expats are shaping Barcelona
Durada: 25 min
22/03/2025
Barcelona has a growing community of international residents, which for better or for worse is changing the face of the city. On this week's podcast we find out who they are, why they chose Catalonia to start a new life and what impact they are having on the city. We meet professor Brian Rosa from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who has done specific research on the topic. Toni Coll, from the Poblenou residents' association, explains the difficulties caused by the influx of expats. And Marta Gràcia, CEO of the co-working Cloudworks, outlines the benefits that the international community bring to Barcelona, particularly from a business perspective. This week, our Catalan phrase is "Val més un veí a la porta que un parent a Mallorca," which translates as "A neighbor at the door is worth more than a relative in Mallorca." For expats, having connections locally can be more helpful than having the support of relatives who are far away.