Join us at this weekend's @scotlibdems.org.uk conference to discuss how to fund Scotland's future. We have a brilliant line up of speakers, including Liam McArthur MSP, Sara Cowan from @swbg.bsky.social, @joaosousa.bsky.social, and our own @miriambrett.bsky.social. 🗓️ 10 October, 13:30 - 14:30

Scotland faces a looming fiscal gap. But that doesn’t mean cuts are inevitable. Giving evidence to The Scottish Parliament @jujupepe.bsky.social explained why "efficiencies" aren't enough to close the gap & provide the upfront investment needed to strengthen public services.

How can Scotland close its looming fiscal gap to strengthen public services and deliver on its ambitions? Last week, our Senior Economist @hannawheatley.bsky.social spoke at the Scottish Government’s Tax Conference making the case for tax reform. Read more: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

Our economist @jujupepe.bsky.social gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament on Scotland’s just transition and the future of green jobs. Watch the clip below👇 And read our report, Delivering a Just Transition for Scotland’s Fossil Fuel Workers, for more: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

This week I gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament' on the sustainability of Scotland's tax and spending plans. A short snippet below on why the government should not just invest ScotWind revenues strategically through a wealth fund, but also take public equity stakes in future ScotWind rounds.

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 4w ago

More than 75% of planned ScotWind capacity is owned by parent companies outside the UK. Here our economist @jujupepe.bsky.social gives evidence to the Scottish Parliament on how Scotland could capture more of the wealth created off our coast to secure long-term returns for the people of Scotland.

More than 75% of planned ScotWind capacity is owned by parent companies outside the UK. Here our economist @jujupepe.bsky.social gives evidence to the Scottish Parliament on how Scotland could capture more of the wealth created off our coast to secure long-term returns for the people of Scotland.

Audit Scotland’s new report echoes many of the shortcomings we identified with the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round. But more can be done to ensure the wealth generated by Scotland's offshore wind is widely shared. Read our full response: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/447-re...

Courtesy of @futureeconscot.bsky.social a great wee map outlining who owns Scotland's offshore wind. www.futureeconomy.scot/scotwind

Future Economy Scotland

Future Economy Scotland is a non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. We believe that Scotland cannot overcome the intertwined challenge...

futureeconomy.scot

Scotland’s offshore wind is one of our greatest national assets. Tomorrow, Audit Scotland will report on how the ScotWind leasing round was run - putting fresh attention on who stands to benefit from the wealth our offshore wind creates.

Scotland’s new Programme for Government offers the clearest picture yet of the Scottish Government’s plans for the next five years. While there was much to welcome, Scotland’s looming fiscal gap was the elephant in the room.

Scotland's oil and gas workforce shrunk by more than a quarter in a decade. But our analysis shows the green energy workforce could grow by around 40,000 jobs by 2030. Here we set out why North Sea decline makes accelerating the green transition more urgent: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/619-fo...

The First Minister has made eradicating child poverty his defining goal, but the Programme for Government did not rise to the scale of the challenge. Read our full response to the Scottish Government's poverty agenda: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/414-re...

The Programme for Government includes some welcome measures on climate change, but elsewhere ambitious rhetoric is not matched by concrete policy. Read our full response to the Scottish Government's climate change agenda: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/383-re...

While aspects of the Programme for Government are commendable, relying on optimistic efficiencies to close the budget gap poses serious risks. Read our full response: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/382-fe...

Later today, the Scottish Government will publish its Programme for Government. Now is not the time for business as usual. Read our recent report setting out policy priorities for the new Parliament 👇 www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

Scotland's Just Transition: Priorities for the new Parliament

Our assessment of the key policy priorities for the new parliamentary term.

futureeconomy.scot

Drilling in Rosebank and Jackdaw will not deliver energy security or an economic boost for UK households. Our latest @futureeconscot.bsky.social blog argues the North Sea is in long-term decline and only a rapid transition to green energy can deliver a prosperous, resilient future.

Four reasons more drilling won't save the North Sea

Sustained economic prosperity and energy security will only come from a green transition.

futureeconomy.scot

NEW: Four reasons more drilling won't save the North Sea Our latest blog looks at why the economic case for further drilling doesn't stack up. And why long-term prosperity instead depends on accelerating the transition to green energy. Read in full: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/619-fo...

Scotland’s short-term funding boost masks a looming fiscal crunch. Public service reform alone won’t close the gap – tax rises are needed to protect services. Read our full response to the latest @scotfisccomm.bsky.social update: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/381-re...

Income per head grew faster in Scotland in 2024 than in the rest of the UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 GDHI per head grew 7.2% to £24,283 – now 93.5% of the UK average, up from a low of 91.3% in 2018. Scotland grew faster than every UK region except Northern Ireland. 🧵

Big claims need strong evidence. After Dan Neidle's analysis made headlines, @lmacfarlane.bsky.social challenged the evidence. Dan responded. Now Laurie revisits the debate and explains why the evidence remains less conclusive than many reports suggest. www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/589-a-...

In our last instalment, we explored the poverty and inequality priorities for Scotland's new Parliament. This week, we're turning to the labour market and economy. Take a look at our 4 priorities below. 🧵

Funding Scotland's future starts with an honest conversation about tax. Scotland's new Parliament faces the most challenging fiscal outlook since the creation of devolution.

Did Scotland’s 48% income tax really lose revenue rather than raise it? Our Co-Director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social spoke to Holyrood Sources podcast about why the claim doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Watch the full discussion (from 20 mins): youtu.be/j03__bAAOGk?...

Last week, there was extensive discussion about whether Scotland's 48% top rate of income tax has reduced public revenue. We've published a detailed analysis examining the evidence. Here's a summary of what we found. 🧵

🚨 NEW: @danneidle.bsky.social claims Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost public revenue. But is this actually true? My new deep-dive says no – Dan’s analysis doesn’t prove anything. It’s a long read, so buckle up 🧵

NEW: Has Scotland's 48% top tax rate really cost the public purse £22 million? Our co-director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social examines the evidence – and finds the claim is built on extremely shaky foundations.

Has Scotland’s 48% tax rate really reduced public revenue?

The media should take note: a modelled hypothesis is not the same as definitive proof.

futureeconomy.scot

“Much of the reporting on this has been quite misleading.” Our co-director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social spoke to BBC ScotCast on claims that Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost money.

Last week, we explored the climate and nature priorities for Scotland's new Parliament. This week, we're focusing on poverty and inequality. What should be at the top of the agenda?🧵

Devolving power away from London is at the heart of Andy Burnham's vision for the UK. Scotland has had over 25 years of devolution. So what can England learn from that experience? Read our latest blog:

What can Scotland teach Andy Burnham about devolution?

Scotland's economy has outperformed its neighbours. But devolution is no silver bullet.

futureeconomy.scot

Andy Burnham has taken office with two big ideas: more devolution and making essentials more affordable. Scotland already has experience of both. What can it teach the rest of the UK? Read our latest blog:

What can Scotland teach Andy Burnham about devolution?

Scotland's economy has outperformed its neighbours. But devolution is no silver bullet.

futureeconomy.scot