• Medium-Term Financial Strategy June 2025
    Jun 26 2025
    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
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    33 mins
  • The Fraser of Allander Institute's 50th anniversary
    Jun 17 2025

    PARTICIPANTS

    Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    Ben Cooper, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    TIME 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

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    12 mins
  • Financing the UK Energy Transition
    Jun 16 2025

    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

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    48 mins
  • The spending review rollercoaster
    Jun 12 2025

    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?

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    41 mins
  • "Holyrood stands under the microscope of their own gaze" - reflections after Scotland misses its interim child poverty targets
    Apr 3 2025

    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?

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    32 mins
  • Disability benefit cuts and limited fiscal headroom: Reflections on the spring statement
    Mar 28 2025

    PARTICIPANTS

    Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    TIME 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?

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    45 mins
  • Energy transition and digital transformation present enormous opportunities
    Mar 24 2025

    PARTICIPANTS

    Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute
    Angela Mitchell, Senior Partner for Scotland & Northern Ireland, Deloitte
    Lesley McEwan, Director in Deloitte's Infrastructure and Capital Programme Team, Deloitte

    TIMESTAMPS

    (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

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    41 mins
  • What is the Barnett formula?
    Mar 4 2025

    PARTICIPANTS

    Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

    TIME STAMPS

    (0:25) What is the Barnett formula and what does it do?

    (2:50) What came before the Barnett formula and how was it different?

    (9:25) Has the Barnett formula resulted in convergence on spending per person across the UK nations?

    (12:40) Limits set by the Barnett formula and their impact on spending options for devolved governments

    (16:50) Governance framework - can devolved governments challenge decisions made on the Barnett formula?

    (22:25) Potential options for changing the Barnett formula and framework

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    29 mins