How productivity could deliver inclusive growth in Scotland

Article

The UK economy has struggled to maintain productivity growth since the financial crash in 2008. Despite catching up with UK pay and productivity levels in the first decade or so of devolution, more recently Scotland’s economy has struggled to maintain consistent growth in productivity rates too.

As the key means of driving up a country’s average living standards over the long term, productivity growth is incredibly important to social and economic outcomes. Poor productivity can hold back growth and hold down wages. Equally, even strong productivity growth may not tackle Scotland’s long-standing inequalities, depending on who benefits from increasing productivity.

This report aims to shed light on the challenges and opportunities of delivering productivity growth in Scotland that can deliver an economy that narrows inequalities, delivering a more inclusive economy that can drive greater prosperity alongside greater economic justice.

Related items

  1. Doctor with patient for consultation, medical advice or procedure at clinic

    Taken to heart: Inequalities in heart disease in Scotland

    More than 7.6 million people across the UK live with cardiovascular disease (CVD), around twice as many as live with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer combined. 
  2. A beautiful sunset in the Scottish highlands with renewable energy wind turbines far into the horizon

    Skills passports: An essential part of a fair transition

    This month, government will publish its Clean Energy Workforce Strategy. This plan covers two aims. First, filling the growing demand for skills in clean energy industries is essential to keep on track to reach the government’s clean power…
  3. The Bank of England is watched over by a statue of the Duke of Wellington seated on his horse

    Fixing the leak: How to end the £22 billion annual taxpayer losses at the Bank of England

    The Bank of England increased its interest rates over recent years, aimed at reducing inflation. But this has also had an unintended effect on the Bank of England’s massive government bond buying – ‘quantitative easing’ – programme.