In the final episode of our Key Figures series Mairi Spowage speaks to Professor in Economics at the Adam Smith Business School, and previous director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, Graeme Roy.
Our next episode of Key Figures features the esteemed David Bell, Professor of Economics at the University of Stirling and a core original member of the Fraser of Allander Institute.
In the third installment of our Key Figures series, Mairi Spowage speaks to Kim Swales and Peter McGregor: two economists who were director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at various times, and instrumental to our longstanding work in CG modelling.
In the second episode of our Key Figures interview series, we talk to Elizabeth Ashcroft, one of the original editors of our long-running Economic Commentaries. We cover her life, the origins of the Institute, and her thoughts on the rapidly changing economic landscape in Scotland.
Clarification 15/9/25 - Victor Bulmer-Thomas did not resign as Director of Chatham House in 2003 over the Iraq war. He left at the end of 2006, although he did author a paper on Blair's foreign policy that was very critical of the invasion.
ParticipantsDr Hannah Randolph - Fellow at the Fraser of Allander InstituteDr João Sousa - Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander InstituteTime stamps(0:40) What pressures does the chancellor face ahead of the autumn budget statement?(8:30) Prospects for improved economic conditions(11:00) Potential policy changes in the Autumn Budget statement(17:00) Impact on the Scottish budget process
(00:25) Price changes after removal(01:37) Reasoning behind peak fares and removal (03:23) Learning from the peak fares removal pilot(06:00) What policies might shift commuters away from cars? (08:47) Alternatives to rail travel(10:57) Policy costs and potential for financial neutrality
ParticipantsDr Hannah Randolph - Fellow at the Fraser of Allander InstituteAllison Catalano - Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute and the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU)Time stamps(00:06) Introduction(01:20) What is the LFS and what are the issues it's been having? (6:57) Alternative data sources for understanding the labour market(18:23) Misunderstandings around what's happened in the post-pandemic labour market(19:39) ONS changes to improve the quality of the LFS(23:40) How poor employment statistics may impact local decision-making(27:49) Information about FAI 50th anniversary conference
(00:29) What is GERS and why is it important?(10:19) What do the latest figures tell us and what factors are driving changes?(14:23) What were our thoughts on the Scottish Government response?(25:51) How likely is GERS to feature in the upcoming general election?
04:27 - What does the UK innovation survey say about innovation in Scotland?07:10 - Is there really a decline in innovation across Scotland? 12:00 - Is business investment in Scotland really less than rest of UK?15:44 - Product innovation versus process innovation21:00 - How do skills shortages affect innovation?24: 00 - How does company size affect innovation?27:04 - How can businesses collaborate with universities to address skills development?29:00 - Where is the policy environment in Scotland when it comes to innovation?
(00:38) What is the Scottish Business Monitor?(02:44) What business types are represented and what is the sample size?(04:28) Has poor business sentiment from Q1 2025 recovered in Q2?(06:50) What changes have we seen based on the changes to employer national insurance contributions?(08:37) What does business sentiment look like for 2026?(11:26) What factors are contributing to current business sentiment?
Timestamps(00:23) What is congestion charging?(02:59) Exemptions(04:49) Similarities with LEZs(07:10) Timing of charges(10:26) Use of discounts & revenue(14:54) Clyde Tunnel Toll(16:26) Edinburgh’s failed proposal(20:13) Other UK charges(21:43) Effectiveness of congestion charges(23:37) Glasgow’s public transport system(25:57) Public attitudes
Timestamps: (01:55) The Social Policy Association (SPA) and the East Asian Social Policy Research Network (EASP)(04:15) The Hospitality Sector – Serving the Future Project (07:30) Learning Disabilities & Employment (10:30) Child Poverty (14:40) Housing & Health (19:10) Labour One Year in Office: Tax Policy & Wealth Taxes? (24:30) Key Takeaways from the Conference
Yesterday, the Scottish Government published their medium-term financial strategy, which kicks off the Scottish Budget process. Hannah Randolph is joined by FAI Director Mairi Spowage to share their reactions. (2:08) What does the medium-term financial strategy do? (8:47) Financial strategy across spending areas (18:04) Public sector reform (25:06) Looking ahead to the Scottish spending review
PARTICIPANTSDr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeProfessor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde Ben Cooper, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeTIME STAMPS(0:20) History of the FAI(5:30) FAI conference plans(10:15) Parliamentary reception plans(11:40) Where to find more information about the FAI 50th
Introduction What are investors saying? 03:43 Why is policy certainty so important? 10:27 Energy companies versus energy investors: 13:05 Where should government focus on? 17:52 Why the grid is so important? 24:42 Importance of effective carbon pricing regime: 31:04 Policy Responses from UK and Scottish Government: 42:11
PARTICIPANTS Ben Cooper, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde Joao Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde TIMESTAMPS (00:30) A summary of the spending review announcements (08:00) What did we hear on capital investment? (11:50) What were the announcements on day-to-day expenditure? (21:14) What are the implications on Scotland from the spending review? (26:50) What has changed for the Medium Term Financial Strategy? (35:30) How important is the spending review going forward?
Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction(00:38) What do the latest child poverty statistics say?(01:49) What was JRF's reaction to the stats?(03:09) Can we see an impact from Scottish Child Payment?(06:09) How do we achieve the 2030 targets from here?(09:24) Modelling of options to meet 2030 targets(12:57) What about cost?(19:27) How might UK Government proposed benefits changes impact poverty levels?(23:30) How will the changes impact Scotland's finances?(25:41) What happens in Scotland if the work capability assessment is replaced by the PIP assessment?(28:20) What's next for child poverty analysis at the FAI and JRF?
PARTICIPANTSDr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeProfessor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeTIME STAMPS(0:30) Economic conditions leading up to the spring statement(16:15) What announcements were made and how do they affect Scotland?(21:10) OBR estimates for policy costs and savings(30:25) What fiscal policy changes might we expect later this year?(37:40) What are the UK's prospects for growth?
PARTICIPANTSProfessor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander InstituteAngela Mitchell, Senior Partner for Scotland & Northern Ireland, DeloitteLesley McEwan, Director in Deloitte's Infrastructure and Capital Programme Team, DeloitteTIMESTAMPS(10:50 ) What purposes could public land be put to?(14:10) Taking the demand to the supply – data centres(15:40) Grid infrastructure issues must still be tackled(16:40) Digital opportunities(19:23) Threats and opportunities from AI, including smart cities(22:28) What can Scotland learn from other cities around the world(24:30) A key role for research and academia(25:23) Power hungry AI(26:50) Use of digital and AI for public service reform(29:57) Civil service efficiency(31:50) Economic impact of these opportunities, including employment