The impact of crisis on cabinet expertise: Spanish ministers and regional ministers in difficult times

How does economical crisis affect to expertise in ministerial elites? The professional and technical background of cabinet ministers is considered a capital resource for executives. This paper aims to analyse the extent of expertise measured by the degree of specialization and managerial skills amongst Spanish ministerial elite at both national and regional level. We analyse the evolution over time, paying especial attention to the changes that may have taken place during the years of the recent economical crisis. Has this critical juncture affected the demands of parties and prime ministers dealing with the expertise within the cabinet? We expect a contradictory trend to be found within this elite, where more expertise is welcome in economical portfolios while stronger political profiles are needed in other areas of the cabinet. We provide empirical data for comparison cross time and cross regional areas.