www.sustainablegrowthcommission.scot
Read report — Sustainable Growth Commission
Scotland – the new case for optimism A strategy for inter-generational economic renaissance
Last time I looked the nw of England was also significantly subsidised. Maybe some trimming there too. In essence all but three uk regions are subsidised. But of course you knew that.
I think in the case of Brexit there was a perceived lack of sovereignty for the UK. In the case of Scottish independence that lack of sovereignty is vey real. As proven by Brexit. :-)
The difference being the other subsidised UK regions don't offer perks above that of the rest of the UK and expect everyone else to pay for it.
The barn
the Barnett formula doesn’t take account of that. It is the Scottish government that prioritises spend. England could do exactly the same if it wanted.
Its not a case of priorities, it's case of spending what you don't have and other UK regions paying for it. Other UK regions spend above their income per head, but they don't try and offer perks above and beyond what you'd get in London and the south East - the regions effectively paying for it. This is like poncing off your mum to afford a flash car.
The report is the latest material piece of work and deals with some of the topics you raise. The impact of Covid is clearly not addressed.
Sorry mate. That is bollocks. The Barnett formulae is a block grant used by the treasury for 40 years. It’s like giving your kids a set pocket money and then complaining how one of them uses it. Argue about the fairness of the Barnett formulae not how Scotland choose to spend the block grant.
Whether it's bollocks or not the SNP are spending above an independent Scotland means. I've read the report above, and although I'm no economist the standout figures are the post independence assumption of a 100% growth in exports, and a surge of immigration from the EU, similar in scale to that seen in America in the 1800's. Other economic hard truths seem to be dismissed on two or three occasions in the report by the statement 'we (the committee) fundamentally disagree' with no supporting evidence. The report states that the Scottish economy is among the top 25 in the world and has the potential to perform as well as other comparable small countries. However, by its own admission it is not even viable at present due to the size of the population, and it's only solution seems to be to rob eastern European states of their most productive workers. This is all wrapped up in the language of positivity and inclusion, but essentially ammount to asset stripping poor EU states to float an otherwise invisible independent Scottish economy.
Well mate, if thats your reading fair fucks. At least you have moved on from the Barnett Formulae. By the way, there were approx 12million immigrated to the USA in the 1800's. Hard as I looked, I couldn't find anything like that number in the SGC report albeit it does recognise the need to address the issue. How it does that is a fair challenge given other countries have tried and failed.
I don't think there'll be a shortage of immigrants (or should I say returnees) from a post Brexit England of Scots that were "asset stripped" by the south of England when we were in the EU and that region was booming. There will also be no shortage of English people who see a better future as citizens of an independent Scotland that has a clear path to EU membership. Whether Scotland will have the capacity or will allow such an influx is another question.
Fair enough. Personally I think that there are a few too many optimistic assumptions in the report upon which success rests. Not impossible though, although I do wonder what is stopping the SNP delivering these changes prior to independence? We already have free movement and have had for years, so it seems,strange the proposed influx has not taken place already. There again Scotland isn't exactly Australia I suppose.
Because the whole of the UK was thriving in the EU with the South East doing the best. Following transition that may well change and an independent Scotland on the road to EU membership might seem a better bet. Of course, I could be wrong and Brexit might unleash Britain’s potential as promised by Boris.
Don't really want to get into brexit. Although I realise it's a factor there is a separate thread for all that. The SNP sums don't even add up pre brexit. I think any assumption that the Scottish economy will be in better shape after it are fanciful as I think you'll agree. In its current state I'm not sure it could meet the requirements to rejoin.
It’s difficult to ignore Brexit as it is the key reason for the independence movement not fading into obscurity after 2014. In the immediate aftermath of transition their economy will be a basket case but if they have a path to EU membership as an independent nation that would give them a huge boost.