The Fraser of Allander Institute Podcast Fraser of Allander Institute

In this episode, Allison Catalano and Jack Williamson discuss the Scottish government's recent poverty statistics for disabled adults, and talk about recent research into the gap in employment levels between disabled and non-disabled people.

Benjamin Cooper is joined by Tony Shemwell and Hamish Robertson of the The Wise Group, a social enterprise in Scotland aiming to lift people out of poverty, to discuss their New Routes mentoring programme and the future of throughcare in Scotland.

FAI economist Dr Hannah Randolph is joined by our director Professor Mairi Spowage to talk about our latest Economic Commentary, which covers the fourth quarter of 2023. We talk about the current state of the economy and some reasons for optimism, then turn to an evaluation of where the Scottish economy is now in comparison to before the Covid-19 pandemic. We wrap up with some lingering thoughts on the Scottish Budget and what fiscal news to look out for in the near future.

FAI economist Dr Hannah Randolph is joined by our director Professor Mairi Spowage and deputy director João Sousa to review big events, themes, and what we did in 2023. The panel talk about the challenges in economic forecasting and measuring the economy, what we've learned from 25 years of the Scottish Business Monitor, and some of our income tax analysis from this year. We wrap up by taking a look ahead to analysis from the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy and the impact of rising interest rates in 2024.

FAI economist Dr Hannah Randolph is joined by our director Professor Mairi Spowage and deputy director João Sousa to discuss our newly published Budget Report. The panel talk about the challenges surrounding the Scottish Budget, the likely funding gap that will need to be addressed by Deputy First Minister Shona Robison, the difficulties in planning for the long-term in the Scottish context and how Scottish Income Tax could be reformed.

João Sousa, deputy director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, is joined by Professor Mairi Spowage, the Institute's Director, to react to the Autumn Statement: the outlook for growth, the tax and spending announcements, and what it all means for Scotland