Public Finance

How we set policy baselines

Author / Creator: Scottish Fiscal Commission

Media type: Report

Date published: 2024

A policy baseline is the set of values we include in our forecast covering all policy aspects of the tax
and social security systems. This includes factors such as tax and social security rates, thresholds,
payment amounts, eligibility criteria and implementation timings.


Debt Dramas

Author / Creator: Charlie McCurdy

Media type: Report

Date published: 2024

£19 billion of cuts to unprotected departmental spending – from Justice to Local Government – [are] pencilled in for after the [20214] election


Fiscal Sustainability Perspectives: Climate Change

Author / Creator: Scottish Fiscal Commission

Media type: Report

Date published:

This report considers the potential effects on Scottish public finances from damage created by climate change; the costs of adapting to a changing environment and taking action to meet Scotland’s statutory emissions targets to reach net-zero by 2045.


What Kilts Might Reveal: A Discussion of Scottish Government Bonds Part 2

Author / Creator: Iain Hardie

Media type: Report

Date published: 2023

Independent governments in countries similar to Scotland rely overwhelmingly on borrowing in their own currency


The Turkey that Voted for Christmas (Twice): How Poor Negotiation of the Fiscal Settlement has Failed Scotland

Author / Creator: Jim Cuthbert

Media type: Report

Date published: 2023

The new fiscal review has been conducted in secrecy and without significant consultation with the Scottish Government.


What Kilts Might Reveal: A Discussion of Scottish Government Bonds, Part 1

Author / Creator: Iain Hardie

Media type: Article

Date published: 2023

Scotland could issue bonds


Scotland’s Finances – The Truth

Author / Creator: Believe in Scotland

Media type: Article

Date published: 2023

Scotland cannot afford to continue subsidising this failing, disinterested and dysfunctional Union.


Rethinking Private Financing of Scottish Public Projects

Author / Creator: Jubilee Scotland

Media type: Report

Date published: 2020

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have, in all their forms, saddled the Scottish public sector with high levels of debt, poor service provision, lack of accountability and unsafe buildings.


Explainers: Borrowing

Author / Creator: Scottish Fiscal Commission

Media type: Article

Date published:

The Scottish Government has access to resource and capital borrowing powers. Following the fiscal framework review in August 2023, borrowing limits will increase by inflation in future years.


Resource Borrowing

Author / Creator: Scottish Government

Media type: Report

Date published:

The Scottish Government must balance its Budget each year and has very limited powers in relation to resource borrowing.


What is the Scottish Budget Process?

Author / Creator: Scottish Government

Media type: Document

Date published:

Every year the Scottish Government sets out a plan of how it plans to spend the money it receives from the UK Government and from taxes raised in Scotland


Funding for the Scottish budget

Author / Creator: Scottish Fiscal Commission

Media type: Report

Date published: 2021

Each chapter of this report explores a different component of funding. We also explain how our forecasts affect the Scottish Budget.


Fiscal Sustainability Report

Author / Creator: Scottish Fiscal Commission

Media type: Report

Date published: 2023

First report on the long-term fiscal sustainability of the Scottish Government’s budget. 


Scotland Against Public Private Partnerships: Briefing Paper on the Use of Tax Havens by Hub and PPP Project Companies

Author / Creator: Dexter Whitfield

Media type: Briefing Paper

Date published: 2023

Recent and new research on tax haven involvement in the Hub companies and PPP project companies. 


How might an independent Scotland build fiscal capacity?

Author / Creator: Tim Besley

Media type: Article

Date published: 2022

Developing a sense of common purpose is critical for nation-building


How might an independent Scotland manage public debt?

Author / Creator: JAGJIT CHADHA

Media type: Article

Date published: 2022

How public debt is managed is a critical question for any national government acting on behalf of its current and future citizens. It is of particular importance to a newly independent country


What might the public finances of an independent Scotland look like?

Author / Creator: DAVID PHILLIPS

Media type: Article

Date published: 2022

The long-term public finances will depend on the performance of the Scottish economy.


Shameless PPProfiteering in Scotland; making money from hospital parking during the Covid-19 pandemic

Author / Creator: Line Kikkenborg Christensen

Media type: Report

Date published: 2022

PPP contracts can limit a government’s ability to implement initiatives in the best interest of the public


Rethinking Private Financing of Scottish Public Projects

Author / Creator: Jubilee Scotland

Media type: Report

Date published: 2020

"Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have, in all their forms, saddled the Scottish public sector with high levels of debt, poor service provision, lack of accountability and unsafe buildings. "


Top 10 Things Stephanie Kelton Wants You to Know About the Economy

Author / Creator: Stephanie Kelton

Media type: Video

Date published: 2018

Ten facts about understanding public finance.