Economy
Has Scottish politics really changed?
The results are in and, in the second part of our podcast (recorded beforehand), our experts look forward to the next five years with suitably sceptical views on the prospects for radical change.
Holyrood 2016: clearing the campaign fog
The first of our series of podcasts explores issues at the forefront and behind the scenes of the 2016 election to the Scottish Parliament – and looks forward to the next five years of the…
Is TV news finished?
The ‘digital disruption’ is hitting television news audiences, especially among the young. As we in Scotland consider the case for more Scottish-produced news output, broadcasters are fighting to stay in the race. Perhaps TV journalism…
Lessons from the Edinburgh schools fiasco
Nicola Sturgeon has called for an inquiry into the Edinburgh school closures and the PFI scheme behind it is under renewed scrutiny. Here Unison’s senior Scottish official, a long-time PFI/PPP opponent, looks at why things…
Try some ‘lab federalism’ on top SRIT rate
Nicola Sturgeon has ruled out raising the additional (“top”) rate of tax to 50p, using similar arguments to those of George Osborne. But is she right to do so? A leading economist is suitably sceptical…but…
Osborne sets sail for wrong Budget goal
George Osborne’s eighth Budget is unravelling as each day passes. Here a leading Stirling Uni economist suggests it’s his direction of travel that’s wrong. Time to relax the fiscal rule and invest for the future.
Taxing cocktail of political risks for SG
Something will have to give if Nicola Sturgeon is to finance her admirable policy wish-list for the next five years. After the UK Budget we can only see a shortfall that will have to be…
Delaying the fiscal crunch
The Scottish Government emerged from the tortuous talks with the Treasury on the fiscal framework with a relatively generous settlement. But it is one that kicks the can down the road towards renewed acrimony in…
Scotland still losing the heid
‘Losing the heid’ is the title of an STV documentary on foreign takers of Scottish companies made by the author 25 years ago. Here he returns to the topic, finds more and more ‘crown jewels’…
Affordable credit: a community project
People in financial trouble are still borrowing money at 1500% interest rates and more but it will take more than chiding the payday lenders to solve a growing social ill. Public bodies and private finance…
Brexit: bad for Scottish manufacturing
The Scottish Government’s new action plan, A Manufacturing Future for Scotland, is a welcome improvement on earlier papers. But it omits the key role of political leadership and of sustained funding via the financial sector.…
Win, win for Scotland?
At the eleventh hour, the Treasury and Scottish Government reached a deal. Jim Gallagher gives credit where it’s due – to both sides – but now the SNP Government have to tell voters how they…