Behind the budget: analysing the factors driving sustainable urban development financing in Spain

This study addresses the factors that determine EU-funded resources in the context of urban development policies in Spain. The interplay of institutional capacity, prior inertia, and local characteristics emerge as determinant variables on Spanish urban financing dynamics. The analysis of the 121 funded cases in the 2021 Spanish call for sustainable urban development reveals the presence of specific local characteristics to be crucial in assessing funding. Stable small and medium-sized municipalities with previous funding experience are more likely to secure funding. The Spanish case emerges as paradigmatic, illustrating how current urban funding frameworks recognise cities with unique characteristics as exemplary models.