The Sustainable Growth Commission appears to be too heavily tied to a free market (neo-liberal) approach to economics.
A study group comprised of members from Common Weal Inverness and InverYes undertook a detailed reading of the report published by the Sustainable Growth Commission and have collated their thoughts, opinions and recommendations ahead of attending the National Assemblies.
Concern was expressed that the Sustainable Growth Commission appeared to be too heavily tied to a free market (neo-liberal) approach to economics. There is a misleading neo-liberal economic storyline that states that governments are the same as businesses and households and must act like them and manage their financial affairs by ensuring that they ‘balance the books’ and live within their means. A technical discussion which attempted to tease out the issues of the neo-liberal orthodoxy and its direct consequences on public finances that results in savage cuts to both welfare spending and infrastructure investment set the background for the discussion on Parts C and B of the report.