Growing the Scottish Economy
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Developing a Knowledge Economy in Scotland: Lessons from the Operation of the LINK Programme
Cuthbert, M.: Fraser of Allander Institute Quarterly
Economic Commentary, (2001).
This paper highlights significant weaknesses with the operation of the LINK
programme in Scotland, which limit the extent to which Scottish industry
actually benefits from the programme.
Higher Education Numbers and Funding in Scotland
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Scottish Affairs no 34, (2001).
Analysis of SHEFC data which is fairly technical, but raises serious
questions about the quality and efficiency of parts of the higher education
sector.
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A Risk Too Far
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Scottish
Left Review, Issue 9: (March/April 2002).
Critique of the Public Finance Initiative, suggesting an alternative
approach, based on unbundling contracts, and public service trusts.
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The Fifth European Framework Programme: A Comparison of Scotland and Ireland
Involvement
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Fraser of Allander Institute Quarterly Economic Commentary, Vol 28, No 2: (June, 2003).
Demonstrates how Scotland fails to benefit as fully as Ireland from this important programme: and gives some pointers as to where improvements could be made.
See also accompanying chart.
Customs and Excise Regional Trade Statistics: a Note
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R: Fraser of Allander Institute Quarterly Economic Commentary, Vol 28, No 3:
(October, 2003).
A note on a fairly technical issue: but important for two reasons:-
(a) despite imperfections in the data, the import data does show the importance
of non-EU imports for Scotland, which is relevant to the debate on Scotland’s
position relative to Euro entry.
(b) demonstrates the poor quality of this data: this is an area where real data
improvements are required.
Science and Technology in Devolved
Scotland: the Example of the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research
Institutes
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R: Fraser of Allander Institute Quarterly Economic Commentary, Vol 29: No 3: (November,
2004).
Uses the example of problems with the SABRIs to illustrate the more general
problem of how to manage the UK science base in the context of devolution.
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Atomised Science
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Scottish Left Review, Issue 27: (March/April 2005).
Another take on science policy under devolution.
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Incapacitated Scotland
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R: Scottish Left Review, Issue 33: (March/April 2006).
Highlights the necessity of supplementing current reform of incapacity
benefit with effective action on local economic regeneration.
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paper
The Scottish Enterprise Overspend: Getting to the Roots of the Problem
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R: article in Sunday Herald, 11 June 2006.
Identifies mistakes made by the Scottish Executive in introducing Resource Accounting and Budgeting as a significant contributory factor to the Scottish Enterprise overspend.
The Need for Improvements in Public Responsibility and Accountability in Scotland
Cuthbert, M.: Scottish Left Review, Issue 35: (July/August 2006).
This note highlights the need for an improved economic strategy for Scotland.
Mismanagement: The Need for Change
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Scots Independent, Special Edition, Spring 2007.
Lists examples of the mismanagement of the Scottish economy and public finances, and highlights the need for change.
How Public Contracts Could Help the Economy
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R.: Scots Independent, Issue 941, July 1st, 2007.
Describes how changes to public procurement practices could play a significant role in helping to revitalise Scotland's economy: and the changes recommended here could be carried out by the new Executive in Scotland without legislation.
Lessons to be Drawn from London's Failure
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Scots Independent, Issue 957, November, 2008.
Argues that the economic crisis we are currently suffering in the UK derives from the failure of the London model of political and financial organisation: and that our chances of developing a more satisfactory alternative are much better if problems are approached from a Scottish, rather than a London, perspective.
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R.: Scots Independent, Issue 958, December, 2008.
Following on from the preceding article, considers what steps the Scottish Government could undertake now, within its existing powers, to help the Scottish economy.
Bausch and Lomb Highlights Weakness in Present System
Cuthbert, M., Cuthbert, J.R.: Scots Independent, Issue 968, October, 2009.
The recent loss of the Bausch and Lomb plant highlights our inability, under the present constitutional settlement, to protect strategic Scottish industries.
SNP Economic Strategy: Neo-liberalism with a Heart
Cuthbert, J.R., Cuthbert, M.: Chapter 9 in the book "The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power", edited by Gerry Hassan, published by Edinburgh University Press, October 2009.
We argue in this chapter that the SNP government faces a triple challenge in implementing its economic strategy. First, it has to demonstrate its competence in managing the economy: second, it has at the same time to convince the electorate that Scotland's economic performance is handicapped by the current constitutional settlement: and finally, it has to paint a convincing vision of how an independent Scotland could prosper economically. We argue that the SNP has underperformed on each leg of this challenge: and we suggest some of the ways forward.