Yolanda Blasco-Martel, a researcher at the UB School of Economics, has recently been awarded the XVI Premi Catalunya d’Economia 2019 for her work on ‚El Banc de Barcelona, 1874-1920; decadència i fallida‘. This prestigious award recognizes her contribution to the field of economic history and highlights the significance of her research in understanding the evolution of banking institutions in Catalonia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The book, written in collaboration with UB professor Carles Sudrià Triay, traces the history of the Bank of Barcelona from its founding in 1844 as a currency issuer to its closure in December 1920. Despite facing challenges such as losing its issuing privilege in 1874, the Bank of Barcelona continued to operate as a commercial bank in Barcelona, Tarragona, Reus, and Mallorca. The publication sheds light on the pioneering experiments and successful practices of this banking institution, offering valuable insights into the economic landscape of the time.
The award ceremony, held online, provided an opportunity for the awarded researchers to present a summary of their work, which had previously won the Vicens Vives 2017 prize for the best book in economic history published in Spain. The event was co-chaired by the president of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC), Joandomènec Ros, and the president of the jury and the Societat Catalana d’Economia (SCE), Eduard Arruga i Valeri. The Vice-President of La Caixa Foundation, Juan José López Burniol, presented the prize to Dr. Blasco-Martel.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Blasco-Martel expressed her joy and gratitude for the recognition of her work, which spans nearly two decades of research in economic history. She emphasized the importance of studying the history of banking institutions and the valuable insights that economic history can provide to our understanding of the economy.
Overall, Yolanda Blasco-Martel’s award-winning research on the Bank of Barcelona offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of banking practices in Catalonia during a crucial period of economic development. Her work not only contributes to the academic field of economic history but also highlights the enduring relevance of historical research in shaping our understanding of contemporary economic issues.