Higher costs, lower employment, reluctance to invest – Sanjam Suri and Josh Hampson find a persistently gloomy outlook among Scottish business in the latest survey by Fraser of Allander. But does AI produce a glimmer of light on the horizon? Business confidence in Scotland remains weak, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute’s Scottish Business Monitor with firms … [Read more...] about Business anticipates uneasy start to 2026
In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
It’s hard to see how the Scottish Government can claim – as it does in its Budget document – to be running a “sustainable pay policy.” It’s also hard to square these pay deals with the allocation of just 0.7% growth in real terms for the Health portfolio... Fraser of Allander budget report, authors João Sousa, Ciara Crummey, Spencer Thompson The devil was very much … [Read more...] about In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
Fraser of Allander takes another bite at the Budget
The apparently tireless Fraser of Allander team are still digesting chewy bits of the Budget. Here they offer their latest titbits of learning. That electric vehicle mileage charge. Is it fair? Will the rail fare freeze: bring passengers short-term savings without improving services? (Scottish Government abolition of peak fares could be a better deal?) What will higher … [Read more...] about Fraser of Allander takes another bite at the Budget
More green energy jobs
Scotland’s renewable energy industry and its supply chain supported more than 47,000 jobs and supported £15.5 billion of output in 2022, new figures show, amid continuing disputes about how many fossil-fuel jobs are at risk under the green new industrial deal. Using the latest data available, Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute reports that offshore wind … [Read more...] about More green energy jobs
Welfare reforms: the (unknown) Scottish dimension
Liz Kendall, work & pensions secretary, has won a lot of criticism but a few plaudits for the long-awaited “green paper” on welfare reform. Here is analysis of the main elements: PIP will not be frozen, but eligibility will be restricted The Secretary of State’s headline announcement was in line with news over the weekend, which suggested that rates will not be frozen. … [Read more...] about Welfare reforms: the (unknown) Scottish dimension