Economy

The Scottish election: my conclusion after talking to all three pro-independence parties

Author / Creator: Richard Murphy

Media type: Video

Date published:

A video interviewing leading politicians from the SNP, the Scottish Greens and Alba about their economic approaches to the forthcoming General Election proved to be an interesting experience.

The National gave Murphy the opportunity to interview Drew Hendry of the SNP, Neale Hanvey of Alba and Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens.


Update: what big policy challenges face Scotland’s next first minister?

Author / Creator: Stuart Mcintyre

Media type: Article

Date published:

Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister has recently stepped down. His successor, John Swinney, faces a number of economic challenges related to growth, an ageing population, regional inequality and the transition to net zero.


How would an independent Scotland borrow?

Author / Creator: Thomas Pope

Media type: Report

Date published: 2021

This report examines how Scotland would
borrow if it were to become independent.
It looks at how much it could borrow
consistently, based on the experience of
other advanced economies.


Swinney must move beyond old orthodoxies

Author / Creator: Laurie Macfarlane

Media type: Article

Date published:

John Swinney, Scotland’s new first minister, faces no shortage of challenges. Lurking behind many of them lies a common cause: an economy that is not working.


How are the UK’s devolved nations faring ahead of the general election?

Author / Creator: Robyn Smith

Media type: Article

Date published:

Over the current parliamentary term, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have each faced unique challenges as well as common ones, such as rising economic inactivity. Measures of output, productivity and the labour market indicate where the devolved nations could improve their economic prospects.


Independence lessons: How Ireland built a strong economy

Author / Creator: Believe in Scotland

Media type: Article

Date published:

Ireland is a stable and prosperous independent country. It has used the powers of independence to build a strong and diverse economy.


Scottish economy expected to improve after slow growth in 2023

Author / Creator: Mairi Spowage

Media type: Article

Date published:

The economists are forecasting growth of 0.6% in 2024, 1.1% in 2025 and 1.2% in 2026. Whilst these forecasts are slightly weaker than previous forecasts, it still points to improving conditions in the economy over the course of this year.


On Surprises, Strategy, the Economy and What Comes Next for Scottish Independence

Author / Creator: Iain Docherty

Media type: Article

Date published:

Nicola Sturgeon's resignation as First Minister and leader of the SNP has thrown Scottish politics into flux. But beneath the superficial media coverage and frenetic party politics that followed her resignation, the fundamentals of the constitutional debate remain unaltered. One of these fundamentals, the extent to which Scotland is better or worse off being part of the UK political economy, is rarely debated in the depth it deserves.


Now is the time to deliver a new era for Scotland’s fishing fleet

Author / Creator: Struan Stevenson

Media type: Article

Date published:

ROCKETING ENERGY PRICES, exacerbated by the illegal war in Ukraine, have hit people and businesses across the UK, especially those that are highly dependent on energy, such as the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.


Scotland - Statistics & Facts

Author / Creator: D. Clark

Media type: Article

Date published:

Scotland is the second-largest country in the United Kingdom and has a population of approximately 5.48 million. With a population density of just 70 people per square kilometer, Scotland is also the most sparsely populated country in the UK.

The number of recorded crimes in Scotland has declined substantially in recent years, falling from almost 512,000 crimes in 2004/05 to around 289,000 in 2022/23.


Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland: Cautious pragmatism?

Author / Creator: Sarah Kyambi

Media type: Report

Date published: 2024

The second Migration Policy Scotland Attitudes Survey updates understanding of what the Scottish public thinks about immigration developing an evidence base that helps policymakers and others make better informed choices in a complex and changing context


How have the institutions of UK devolution affected economic performance?

Author / Creator: Esmond Birnie

Media type: Article

Date published:

It is sometimes argued that the experience of devolution for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales implies that the regions of England need greater decentralisation to improve policy delivery and economic outcomes. But the evidence from the devolved nations after 25 years is much more ambiguous.


How foreign ownership drains Scotland’s wealth

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Research

Date published:

This paper examines data published by the Scottish Government on Scotland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI) which lays out the extend to which the profits from foreign-owned companies in Scotland are extracted outwith Scotland, how it is done and where the profits go.


Secrecy and Green Freeports PREPARE TO BE SHOCKED

Author / Creator: Alex Thorburn

Media type: Opinion

Date published: 2024

The Westminster / Holyrood partnership to introduce “Green Freeports” to Scotland is a complete betrayal of the people of Scotland.


Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed

Author / Creator: Jack Peat

Media type: Article

Date published:

Scotland’s annual tax contributions to the UK have increased by £14.2 billion over the last decade, with income tax, capital gains tax and taxes on productions such as environmental levies driving this increased contribution.

New analysis shows that the Scottish public sector generated an annual revenue of £73.3 billion during the last financial year, a 24 per cent increase versus a decade ago, equating to an increased contribution of £14.2 billion to the UK economy.


Scotonomics podcasts

Author / Creator: Scotonomics

Media type: Podcasts

Date published: 2021-

How the economy really works


The Case for Industry Sector Strategies

Author / Creator: Lord Sainsbury of Turville

Media type: Report

Date published: 2023

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor, have seen no need to systematically support British industry in the face of fierce global competition


From Growth to Good a ten-year growth plan for Scotland

Author / Creator: Dan Turner

Media type: Report

Date published: 2023

Without higher rates of growth, we risk a corrosive culture where people come to think of the world as a zero-sum game – where we fight to claim our share of a diminishing pie; where we reach the view that in order for us to win, somebody else must lose. It is a path we must not choose.


Wellwashing: Why a Superficial Approach to Wellbeing Economics will Fail

Author / Creator: Iain Black

Media type: Report

Date published: 2023

An approach to economics that increases as maximises wellbeing must do so despite and regardless of the impact this approach would have on growth.


The Hallmark of the UK Economy is Stagnation

Author / Creator: Ross McAlinden

Media type: Article

Date published: 2023

Scotland’s economic advantages have been squandered by the UK for too long.