Does Scotland have a good economy?

People want to know if the economy of Scotland is good enough to support an independent nation.

GDP indicates Scotland has a good economy

In most years, Scottish GDP per head is larger than UK GDP per head when a geographical share of North Sea oil and gas extraction is included. This is higher than the OECD average.

Scotland challenges inequality, while UK falls behind

It is evident that inequalities and uneven levels of deprivation across the UK continue to be a significant problem. However, it is also clear that Scotland is continually challenging these inequalities and the Scottish Government is working to ensure that levels of GDP per head in Scotland match the average of EU countries

Primary Author or Creator
Believe in Scotland

A Guide to Scottish GDP

This guide shows the difference between measures of GDP.  The guide shows how the Scottish economy compares in the UK and the world. Scotland's GDP per head is at the average of the OECD countries, just behind Great Britain. There are wide regional differences in Gross Vaue Added per head of the most value being 3 times the least area. Disposable income per head has much less variation (38%).  The Human Development Index shows Scotland very close and recently narrowing the small gap with the UK

Type of Resource
Guide
Primary Author or Creator
Fraser of Allander Institute

State of the economy

This is the three times a year report on the Scottish economy in an international context.

Type of Resource
government report
Primary Author or Creator
Chief Economic Advisor
Additional Author(s) / Creators
Scottish Government

Scottish Development International

Presents the Scottish economy from an international business and investment perspective.

Type of Resource
website
Primary Author or Creator
Scottish Development international

SCOTTISH ECONOMY OVERVIEW

This gives the Scottish economic statistics from an international investment point of view.

Type of Resource
Web site
Primary Author or Creator
Scottish International Development

Scottish economic statistics

This paper gives key statistics in graphic form showing such things as: Population 5.4 million, GDP as £166.8 billion or £30,530 per person, employment as 74.8%, unemployment as 4.2%, average weekly full time wage as £595, and many more.

Type of Resource
government report
Primary Author or Creator
Scottish Enterprise

The political economy of and practical policies for inclusive growth—a case study of Scotland

The article reports comparative analysis of economic and planning policy documents from Scotland, England and the UK.  This indetifies four key policy areas for ‘inclusive growth’: skills, transport and housing for young people; city-regional governance; childcare; and place-making.

Type of Resource
Academic Paper
Date Published
Primary Author or Creator
Donald Houston
Additional Author(s) / Creators
Georgiana Varna, Iain Docherty

What Does Good Green Infrastructure Planning Policy Look Like? Developing and Testing a Policy Assessment Tool Within Central Scotland UK

the best performing policies were captured and adapted to inform a suite of model policies with global application. Significantly, the policies champion the different functions performed by GI and stress the need for early and ongoing involvement throughout any development process with funding for long-term stewardship post-development.

Type of Resource
Academic Paper
Date Published
Primary Author or Creator
Max Hislop
Additional Author(s) / Creators
Alister J. Scott, Alastair Corbett

The Transformation of Scotland; the Economy since 1700

There are issues, such as the distribution of income, which merit particular attention in Scotland's case.  There are also contradictions in explanations of Scotland's economic performance that have to be addressed.

Type of Resource
Book
Primary Author or Creator
T M Devine
Additional Author(s) / Creators
C H Lee, G C Peden, Edinburgh University Press