Scotland's improving economic performance : a long-term comparative study
McLaren, John (2003) Scotland's improving economic performance : a long-term comparative study. Quarterly Economic Commentary, 28 (2). pp. 42-48. ISSN 0306-7866
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Abstract
There has been much comment of late to the effect that Scotland's historical growth rate has been poor, relative to both the UK and to other countries. This paper takes a contrary view. Firstly, based on figures for Gross Domestic Output (GDP) per capita, acting as a proxy for the rise in the standard of living, it argues that Scotland's long-term growth rate is very similar to that of the UK. Secondly, using the same measure, when Scotland's performance is compared internationally, it is shown to have improved over the last three decades relative to other developed economies. Thirdly, it is shown that much of the worsening seen in Scotland's performance, relative to the UK, since the mid-90's can be attributed in large part to methodological inconsistencies in the collection of data for Health and Social Work services. The paper concludes by considering some of the ways that a better understanding of the relative performance of the Scottish economy might be achieved and warns of the potential dangers of reinforcing a negative view of the Scottish economy.
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Item type: Article ID code: 47082 Dates: DateEventJune 2003PublishedSubjects: Social Sciences > Economic Theory Department: Strathclyde Business School > Economics
Strathclyde Business School > Fraser of Allander InstituteDepositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 04 Mar 2014 09:54 Last modified: 08 Nov 2024 01:33 Related URLs: URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/47082