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 in the … [Read more...] about In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
Economy
UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) put is it as well as anyone. “Today’s Budget locks in a high-tax, high-debt steady state in a world of low productivity growth and higher interest rates. Even the historically large tax share of GDP now planned is only just enough to stabilise – not reduce – a debt ratio stuck around 100 per cent of GDP for the … [Read more...] about UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed
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
#MuscatelliReport: is Scotland ready for radical action on regional economic development?
For Sceptical Scot John McLaren weighs options, opportunities, obstacles and highlights an oddity in the Muscatelli ReportAnton Muscatelli’s report for the Scottish Labour Party on Regional Economic Development in Scotland is, as you would expect from such an experienced economist, a very thorough analysis of what needs to be done to improve the economic performance across … [Read more...] about #MuscatelliReport: is Scotland ready for radical action on regional economic development?
AI, creativity and humanity (2): Obstacles
In the second part of his series Douglas Perman examines the risks AI may pose to a trio of issues: copyright, the environment, and employment. Other issues such as privacy feature in Part 3. I’ve written in Sceptical Scot before about the significant challenges faced by the creative industries in Scotland since the pandemic. The economic challenge has not gone away. Costs are … [Read more...] about AI, creativity and humanity (2): Obstacles