Spanish politicians claim that the country is turning a corner after its long years of economic crisis. But on the ground ordinary citizens have yet to feel the benefits, and are experiencing drastic cuts to their welfare state

The Spanish economic crisis began, despite it being denied for a long time, in 2008, if not earlier. Six years later we are still immersed in it although, again, many try to deny it.

This crisis affects all the fundamental areas of life and all the utilities that should ensure the welfare state in our country: education, culture, health, the economy.

So what are the criterea by which we should judge how far our citizens are benefiting from the economic turnaround that the government claims is underway? How far are people feeling the recovery in their daily lives?

This was the subject of a really interesting recent article in El Pais, where a number of authors each analysed the problems which together and separately continue to be present in Spain.

First of all, today's society is a knowledge society, so specialized and applied knowledge is the real wealth of the country. Yet Spain has reduced the budget of its schools and universities by 16% in the last four years; hardly something that will encourage this critical area.

And, secondly, despite education and culture going hand in hand, in Spain no concessions have been made that would promote popular culture, for example free entry or concessionary rates to museums or the theatre and cinema.

Instead, the only move that has been made is to bring down the rate of VAT on transactions of artworks - great news for all those Spaniards who have a Claude Monet in their living room!

Thirdly, there is Spain's public health system, something that in the past we have rightly taken a pride in. Few countries in the world can compete with us on this, and many European citizens take a 'vacation' to be operated on here in some of the best health centres, with the best medical equipment. But now all this is under threat.

Health budgets have lost 6.800 billion euros in the last four years, with the result that waiting times for surgery have increased to 100 days on average. Meanwhile drug co-payment schems for pensioners have been introduced, and many immigrants have been excluded from treatment. All this has created social dependency issues which are undermining society, some of which reached a head about four months ago.

Official figures show a huge backlog of people on the waiting list for health treatment: the number who are entitled to receive support but are not getting it has now reached 189,427. There has also been a decline in treatment for those with more serious levels of dependency, which ends up with them needing more care and the care costs adding up to more.

On paper, the economic indicators are looking better. The lower risk premium, improved public debt, a healthier stock market, what the IMF gives and takes away - but does that mean a real improvement in the economy? Not just because the economic and financial reporting by the government deems it to be so.

A few days ago the president of the Spanish government made a statement in which he declared, apparently convinced, that there is a trend change in the country's economic and financial situation, which has improved substantially.

On the ground though, this has yet to be felt. In any case, we'll know soon enough how true these words are.

Marta Riera López is auditor of the auditing authority of the Principality of Asturias in Spain