Can Scotland afford to be independent?

How is Scotland in debt if it can't borrow?

Author / Creator: The National

Media type: News Media

Date published:

The accounts don’t suggest Scotland is in debt at all. People just don't understand how to analyse the UK Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report (GERS).


How Scotland’s been tricked into thinking it’s too poor.

Author / Creator: The National

Media type: News Media

Date published:

A poll for Prospect Scotland found that 75% of Scottish voters would vote for independence if they felt that the economic plan for an independent Scotland meant we would be better off. 


Business for Scotland

Author / Creator: Richard Walker

Media type: Web site

Date published:

"We make the case for maximum devolution of power and responsibility possible at any time, particularly in areas such as the economic levers and business policies. In turn, this will allow a Scottish Government to boost economic growth."


Thinking Outwith the Box, GERS 2020-21 and the SNP conference Agenda

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Podcast

Date published:

What the latest GERS figures mean (and don’t mean) for Scotland, independence and the post-pandemic recovery.


Scottish independence referendum: why the economic issues are quite different to 2014

Author / Creator: Graeme Roy

Media type: Review

Date published:

Scotland has a successful economy. It has challenges - inequalities, ageing population, and less dynamic businesses than competitors. The engaged population will demand facts and figures rather than political persuasion.


Beyond GERS: Scotland’s fiscal position post-independence

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published: 2017

GERS (Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland) is not a good guide to the position of Scotland post independence.

 


Potential dangers of public sector investment in hub sub debt

Author / Creator: Jim Cuthbert

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published: April 2017

An analysis of the potential dangers of Scottish Government investment in Hub sub-debt, which may act as a form of ‘concealed’ borrowing from the secondary market.


Common Weal analysis of GERS 2016-2017 reveals economic opportunities of independence

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Assessment report

Date published:

An independent Scotland could be better off to the tune of at least £7.5 billion in comparison to the figures in the 2017 GERS paper effectively cutting the deficit by over half. The very act of Scottish Independence would boost tax revenue by at least £7.5 billion per year.


A Scottish Tax System: Imagining the Future

Author / Creator: Richard Murphy

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

An independent Scotland could fix the inefficiencies and abuses of the UK tax system if it took an entirely different approach, creating a system that works better for Scotland’s economy and society.


Common Weal Inverness and InverYes – Consideration of the Sustainable Growth Commission Report

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: consultation response

Date published:

The Sustainable Growth Commission appears to be too heavily tied to a free market (neo-liberal) approach to economics.


A Silver Chain – A Critique of the Sustainable Growth Commission’s Monetary Policy Recommendations

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Review

Date published: June 2018

In May 2018 the Sustainable Growth Commission made its final report, presented as a series of recommendations on the economic, fiscal and monetary case for Scottish independence. This document does not cover the full gamut of policies which would be directly affected by independence nor does it cover the full range of institution building required by a nascent independent state. The report discusses the creation of a “Central Bank”, but creation of other institutions such as energy regulators, customs and borders agencies and foreign and diplomatic services lay outwith its remit.


Scotland’s Fiscal Future

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

The quest for GDP and GDP Growth is not sustainable in a finite world.  Metrics such as environmental impact, inequality and wellbeing are far more important and only by elevating them above the quest for “growth at all costs” can a truly fair and sustainable Scotland be created.


An Investment-Led Economic Development Framework For An Independent Scotland

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

Scotland, if independent, could improve its performance across 12 key pillars of its economy. There are a number of economic theories beyond the current one used by the UK. An investment-led economy would include laying down the foundations of a Green New Deal.


Resilient Scotland; Part Two

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

Creating a resilient Scotland covers the next Scottish Parliament. It provides the detail of how the transformation envisaged can be achieved quickly, with a closer look at our economy, society and democracy.


Resilient Scotland Part Three

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

The final stage of the Resilient Scotland Plan runs from 2025 with Scotland becoming an independent country.  By 2045, the plan will be complete and Scotland will have been transformed into a net zero-carbon country with a resilient economy that works for All of Us.


The Common Home Plan – Technical Report

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

This Technical Report is an annex to The Common Home Plan, a part of Our Common Home – A Green New Deal for Scotland. The fact that this book represents the broadest and most detailed Green New Deal blueprint yet published for any country means that it covers a great many of topics in detail and thus draws upon a vast body of literature and other previously published work.


The Common Home Plan

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

There are a number of policy tools which can be used to encourage transformative changes to our lifestyles. However, it should be noted that most of these policy tools are designed to enact structural change rather than individual change and, again, it must not be read that these can simply be introduced into a free market economy as if they will succeed in shifting those markets. They won't, at least not as a result of individual behaviours. The Plan details the the changes needed.


    Scotland will qualify for S&P's highest economic assessment, says Standard & Poors

    Author / Creator: The Scottish Reserve Bank

    Media type: News Item

    Date published: 2014

    Scotland’s wealth levels are comparable to those of AAA-listed nations and that, as an independent country - even without North Sea oil - Scotland will qualify for S&P's highest economic assessment.


    Resilient Scotland; Part One

    Author / Creator: Common Weal

    Media type: Policy Paper

    Date published: 2021

    The Scottish National Investment Bank should act as a bank and capitalise from sources such as pension funds. It should lend to the public and the private sector.  Public procurement should have the public policy goal of supporting Scottish business and achieving the maximum number of manufacturing jobs.