This page provides links to some of my papers supporting the Council's work, and to those for the wider autonomy ("home rule") and economics of independence debates.

 

The first report of the new Fiscal Commission Working Group is due out in February 2013. A link will be added later to give a more systematic overview.



Introductory papers:

- “Options for Scotland's Future - the Economic Dimension” Occasional Paper No. 80, David Hume Institute, University of Edinburgh, 2008.

    Also at: http://www.davidhumeinstitute.com/images/stories/publications/HOP/HOP_80.pdf​

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- “Scotland and the Euro: the Issues”, Scottish Affairs, 2003, 45, 3-20.



- “The Economics of Devolution: Constraints on policy discretion in a globalised economy”, Scottish Affairs, 2003, 45, 44-60 (with A Scott).



Background papers on the roots and sources of popular pressure for fiscal autonomy and/or separation:

- "Alberto Alesina: The Science of Using Political Economy Concepts to Explain the Macroeconomic Landscape", Atlantic Economic Journal. 40. 351-365, 2012.



- "Scottish Separatism", presentation at UC Berkeley, April 2012.



Council papers:

The first council (2007-2011) issued three annual reports in  December 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. They will be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Annual-Reports



Specific papers on policies for productivity and growth:

- "Raising Productivity Levels in Scotland" Presentation to the Council, September 2008



- "Achieving Scotland's Productivity Target" Chapter 3, Second Annual Report, 2009



on borrowing:

- "Borrowing", chapter 7, Second Annual Report, 2009



and on proposals for the life sciences industry:

- "Life Sciences", Chapter 4, Third Annual Report, 2010

 

Papers on Fiscal Autonomy in Scotland:

- "Scotland: a New Fiscal Settlement", policy paper, June 2010 [also available from Reform Scotland]​

 

- "How To Ensure Fiscal Sustainability in National and Sub-National Governments", Public Finance and Management, 12 (4), 331-349, 2012.



- "The Practicalities of Fiscal Autonomy in Regional Government: A Critical Review of How to Apply the Lessons of Fiscal Federalism in Practice", January 2012.



- "Corporation Tax", Evidence to the Scottish Parliament (Scotland Bill Committee), October 2011.

 

- "A summary of the fiscal autonomy proposals", May 2010.​

 

Papers on the Economic Framework for Independence:

 

- "Optimal Monetary Arrangements for Scotland: Adopt Which Money and Why?" from "Scotland's Economic Future" Donald MacKay (ed), Reform Scotland, Edinburgh, 2011.

 

- "Scottish Bonds: Should Scotland Be Given Her Own Borrowing Powers?" Evidence to the UK treasury, September 2012.

 

- "Financial Regulation, Bailouts and the Lender of Last Resort Function", Working group background paper, July 2012.



-  FAQ: Answers to graduate students questions, November 2012

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