As Hard Brexit looms, 14 experts gather to point to a new Scotland
A WEALTHIER, FAIRER SCOTLAND is the rallying cry of a new book being released next month by 14 economic and policy experts.
Published by Edinburgh University and edited by Professor Michael Keating, a specialist in European politics, the book aims to outline new ideas about taxes, spending, inequality, welfare and childcare in Scotland.
‘A Wealthier, Fairer Scotland: The Political Economy of Constitutional Change’ is being published at a time when analysts, politicians and the public are concerned about the effect Brexit will have on the development of Scotland.
“While they might look banal, what is significant about these objectives is that they take us beyond the “regional devolution” model of government.” Michael Keating
Professor Michael Keating, who is also director of the ESRC Centre on Constitutional Change, said: “The powers of the Scottish Parliament and Government are now nearer to the scale of their ambition: a Scotland that is wealthier, fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter and greener.
“While they might look banal, what is significant about these objectives is that they take us beyond the “regional devolution” model of government. These strategic objectives match the ambitions of nation states themselves.”
Keating said that what motivated the writers of the book was the desire to combine a prosperous economy with a more financially equal society.
Despite some of the contributors’ fears about the current political climate and the approach of a hard Brexit the writers of the book maintain that given the Scottish Government’s popularity and new powers from the Smith Commission, there is still much it can do at present.
“This interdisciplinary collection of essays asks how it [a richer and fairer Scotland] can be achieved, given the range of powers available, economic constraints, institutions and public support.” Michael Keating
However, the ambition of the book is to also see how radical policies can be implemented given the economic and legal constraints the Scottish Government exists under now.
Keating added: “ This interdisciplinary collection of essays asks how it [a richer and fairer Scotland] can be achieved, given the range of powers available, economic constraints, institutions and public support.”
Contributors include Keating, who is also a lecturer at Aberdeen and Edinburgh universities, David Bell from the university of Stirling who has a record of expertise in immigration and the economy, Katerina Lisenkova of National Institute of Economic and Social Research, London and Kirstein Rummery of university of Stirling who has written about the gender aspects of economic reform.
Other contributors are Paul Cairney, David Eiser and Emil St Denny from the university of Stirling. Nicola McEwen and Robert Liñeira from Edinburgh, Kim Swales, Peter McGregor and Patrizio Lecca, of the university of Strathclyde and Craig McAngus and Malcolm Harvey from Aberdeen University.
A Wealthier, Fairer Scotland is available for pre-order on the Edinburgh University press website now and goes on released in March of this year.
Picture courtesy of Edinburgh University Press
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