Global voices, local impact – How expats are shaping Barcelona

Barcelona has a growing community of international residents, which for better or for worse is changing the face of the city. This week on Filling the Sink we find out who they are, why they chose this part of the world to start a new life and what impact they are having on the city.

Lorcan Doherty sits down with host Beth Cohen to discuss the proliferation of expats in Barcelona. We meet Brian Rosa, researcher and university professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who has done specific research on the topic and who explores some of the legal aspects. Toni Coll, from the Poblenou residents’ association, explains the difficulties caused by the influx of highly educated international citizens, especially in terms of housing and the gentrification of certain areas of the city. And Marta Gràcia, CEO of the co-working franchise 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” and emphasizes the importance of local communities. For expats, having connections locally can be more helpful than having the support of relatives who are far away.