Rich getting richer, poor getting poorer

The rich are getting richer and the poor even poorer in the Balearics, which despite being one of the wealthiest regions of Spain with the highest income per capita, the quality of living is struggling down the list of autonomous communities in sixth place. The Balearic Minister for Finance, Joan Mesquida, announced the results of a government survey yesterday during parliament's debate of the Balearic budget for next year. The full results of the study will be published over the next few days, but in carrying out the survey of living standards in the Balearics, a wide rage of factors were taken into account such as the infrastructure, the mortality rate and the social conditions of workers. According to Mesquida the region has one of the highest rates of accidents in the work place while wages are some of the lowest. Mesquida used the results of the survey as one of the reasons for the high amount of investment included in next year's budget. The Minister said yesterday “we do not have a modern infrastructure,” and Mesquida believes that the situation makes the Balearic population “uncomfortable.”