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.