Economic research

Economic commentary February 2010 (Word 60kb)

A brief, non-technical overview of recent trends in the global, UK and Scottish economies.

Economics updates

The Economics Team at Scottish Enterprise provide regular updates on the following:

Monthly Economic Commentary - an overview of global, UK and Scottish economic trends and the implications for Scottish Enterprise
Ad hoc Briefing Papers - occasional papers on issues affecting the Scottish economy
Economic Seminars - a series of seminars on economic issues affecting the Scottish Economy

If you would like to receive any of these updates please contact Suzanne Fleming at suzanne.fleming@scotent.co.uk

Scottish economy

Economic performance indicators - June 2009 update (Word, 296kb): This paper examines the progress of the Scottish economy over time based on the performance of a small number of economic indicators. It compares Scotland's performance against these indicators with other European countries and UK regions.
Scottish key facts January 2010 (PDF, 258kb): Brief overview of some of Scotland's key statistics including GVA (Gross Value Added) and employment figures, exports, sector level data, academic achievement statistics and key enterprise and inward investment news.
Monitoring and Benchmarking the Performance of the Scottish Economy (277kb) (August 2008): This paper examines the progress of the Scottish economy over time based on the performance of a small number of economic indicators. It compares Scotland's performance against these indicators with other European countries and UK regions
Scottish Economic Forecasts (PDF, 1.5Mb) (September 2008): This report presents a set of forecasts for the Scottish Enterprise regions, Scotland and the UK in Spring and Autumn 2008. It focuses on providing an overview of the global and macro models, and sectoral and regional forecasts. In addition the Scottish and Scottish Enterprise regions forecasts are presented with commentary on each individual region.
National Economic Review - June 2009 (PDF, 1.3Mb): This national review provides an overview of recent economic trends, progress towards the GES targets and an economic outlook for Scotland as a whole.

Key Indicators

Futureskills Scotland's Key Indicators is an easy-to-use tool that provides free online access to a wide range of labour market and economic data for a range of geographical areas in Scotland.

Find out more about Futureskills Scotland's Key Indicators

Local economy

Global economy

The Economic Performance of Finland: (Word, 909kb): This paper provides a brief overview of economic trends in Finland, with Scottish comparisons where available, and highlights the main factors behind recent performance.
The performance of the Massachusetts Economy (Word, 223kb) (May 2007): The Massachusetts and Boston city region economies rank highly in a number of benchmark indices and are often cited as examples of successful knowledge economies. The 2005 World Knowledge Competitiveness Index, which benchmarks the world's top "knowledge regions", ranks Boston second out of 125. Boston’s position is boosted by high productivity and GDP per head, driven in particular by high levels of R&D expenditure and equity finance. Scotland is ranked 83rd.

Industries

Chemicals

Biofuels mapping expertise across Scottish Enterprise priority industries - January 2009 (PDF, 100kb): This report presents the results of a mapping study of the Scottish Biofuels Sector. This covers biofuels in its widest sense namely the conversion of biomass to heat, power, combined heat and power (CHP) and transportation fuels. The project arose as a result of the Scottish Enterprise Priority Industry interest in the Scottish Government manifesto commitments on alternative fuels and transport. Scottish Ministers have stated manifesto commitments on the use of alternative transport fuels and vehicles and an appropriate approach to delivering these commitments is being formulated

Energy

The Economic Analysis and Rational for Engagement with the Energy Industry - November 2008 (Word, 355kb): This paper provides an economic overview of the energy industry; an analysis of economic performance and information on the contribution of the industry to Performance Committee indicators. It also describes the current focus of Scottish Enterprise’s support to the industry and the competitive advantages we aim to exploit.

Financial Services

The Contribution of the Financial Services to the Scottish Economy - September 2009 (Word, 261kb): This paper outlines recent performance of the financial services sector and its contribution to economic growth and the Government Economic Strategy, the rationale for support by Scottish Enterprise and a summary of Scottish Enterprise support.

Food & Drink

Economic Analysis and Rationale for Engagement with the Food and Drink Industry (Word, 504kb) (August 2008): This paper provides an economic overview of the food and drink industry; an analysis of the economic performance of the industry against key benchmarks and information on the contribution of food and drink to performance committee indicators. It also describes the current focus of Scottish Enterprise’s support to the industry and the competitive advantages we aim to exploit.

Tourism

Economic Analysis and Rationale for Engagement with the Tourism Sector - June 2009 (Word, 453kb): This paper provides an economic overview of the tourism sector; an analysis of the economic performance against key benchmarks; and information its contribution to National Performance Framework and other economic indicators. It also describes the current focus of Scottish Enterprise’s support to the sector, the competitive advantages we aim to exploit and the future outlook for the sector in Scotland.

Enterprise

Best Strategies in Skills Utilisation Executive Summary - January 2010 (PDF, 114kb) Best Strategies in Skills Utilisation - January 2010 (PDF, 1.1Mb): This report was written in response to Skills Development Scotland and Scottish Enterprise's wish to identify best strategies in skills utilisation among Scottish businesses. The report is designed to support the work of the Scottish Government's Skills Utilisation Leadership Group.
Enterprise in Scotland: Insights from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor - January 2009 (PDF, 381kb): This research examines the reasons behind Scotland's enterprise performance using existing GEM (Global Enterprise Monitoring) research and data.
Analysis of Business Base in Scotland Compared to Other European Nations (Word, 182kb) (August 2008): This paper has been written to better understand the business base in Scotland and how it compares to other European nations. Specifically, it seeks to answer the question of whether other countries have a larger “mid sized” business base. In addition, it also runs statistical tests to determine whether there is a statistically significant link between the economic performance of these countries and the numbers of businesses by size band.
New Firm Formation Across Local Authority Areas (Word, 135kb) (August 2008): This paper has been written to better understand whether the level of new firm formation varies across different regions in Scotland. It also poses the question of whether there are any variables which can help to predict why any changes may occur. Specifically, the paper responds to the following brief: "Are there different patterns/start-up rates by region/LEC, and what are the causes? Have there been improvements over time in any specific areas, and can these be related to other interventions?"
Enterprise and Economic Growth (Word, 810kb) March 2008: This analysis draws on existing research and outlines what is meant by enterprise, why it is an important driver of growth, what the potential measures/indicators of enterprise are and how the UK and Scottish economies perform. Where available, performance is compared to the "Arc of Prosperity" and other small European countries outlined in the Government Economic Strategy.
Competition and Economic Growth (Word, 549kb) August 2007: The analysis draws mainly on existing research and analysis, for example recent reports by the Treasury and Office for Fair Trading, and outlines why competition is an important driver of growth, considers the potential measures/indicators of competition at the UK and Scottish level and assesses the available evidence on levels of competition faced by businesses in Scotland.

Investment

Scottish Enterprise Investments 2008/09 Annual Report (2Mb): 2008/09 was by far the busiest and most challenging year Scottish Enterprise Investments has experienced since it was established in 2003. Despite the tough economic conditions, we raised an additional £117million of capital funds, substantially grew the number and diversity of our private sector investment partners, witnessed a doubling of funds invested and generated over £2million of income from our portfolio.
The risk capital market in Scotland 2008 (2.2Mb): This report provides analysis of the size, structure and nature of the early stage risk capital market in Scotland. It recognises the contribution that the market has made to business venture creation and development in Scotland. The report also provides the basis for the development and evaluation of policies to stimulate the market from a position of knowledge built on a rigorous evidence base.
The strategic role and contribution of the risk capital market to the development of Scotland's economy - June 2009 (Word, 214kb): This paper provides an overview of the strategic role and contribution of the early stage risk capital market to the development of Scotland's economy, describes the key features of the Scottish market, and provides evidence on the contribution made to the Government Economic Strategy (GES) growth targets.
Investment and Economic Growth (Word, 534kb) December 2007: This analysis draws on existing research, for example the HM Treasury's "Productivity in the UK" series, and outlines what is meant by investment, why it is an important driver of growth, what the potential measures/indicators of investment are and how the UK and Scottish economies perform. Where available, performance is compared to the "Arc of Prosperity" countries outlined in the Government Economic Strategy.
The Risk Capital Market in Scotland report (2005-2007) (3.5 Mb): The report, commissioned by the risk capital investment team, is a key tool for gathering intelligence on the risk capital market in Scotland. The findings provide a view on the suitability of existing funding mechanisms and where, if appropriate, there is a requirement to develop new funds as market gaps emerge. The research looks at investment in the early stage risk capital market including the number and value of investments made, investment by industry sector, location of companies receiving and investors giving finance and the types of investors making investment over the period 2005-2007 inclusive.

Innovation

Scotland's Commercialisation And Research Asset Base (SCARAB) December 2008 (PDF, 3.5Mb): This mapping study of Scotland's Commercialisation and Research Asset Base (SCARAB) focuses on the research activity 'hot-spots' in Scotland, especially where research has potential for commercialisation and helps to raise the rate of economic growth in Scotland.
Scottish e-Business Survey 2007 (PDF, 1.1Mb): This survey aims to understand the attitudes towards and adoption of e-business and ICT within Scotland's business community. Interviews were conducted with key technology decision makers from around 4,000 Scottish businesses, and included questions relating to the importance of ICT, technologies, practices, benefits, processes, planning, skills and support. The survey was conducted during September and October 2007.
Research and development and innovation in Scottish businesses - March 2008 (Word 600 kb): The analysis draws mainly on existing research and outlines what is meant by R&D and Innovation, why they are important drivers of growth, what the potential measures/ indicators are and how the UK and Scottish economies perform. Where available, performance is compared to the "Arc of Prosperity" and other small European countries outlined in the Government Economic Strategy.

Infrastructure

Scottish Multi-Modal Freight Locations Study (June 2009) (4.75Mb)

This report examines the possible development of Scotland’s key freight locations in terms of their economic competitiveness and contribution to other issues such as promoting modal shift and providing wider benefits. It presents these issues and findings in terms of the potential demand for and impact of multi-modal freight locations throughout the country.

There is also a presentation and a Q&A document:

Mobile coverage on European railways - November 2008 (PDF, 347kb)

This research identifies situations where mobile phone coverage has been improved on European railway tunnels and cuttings. As well as railway tunnels and cuttings,the study has identified a number of examples of metro systems and road tunnels which have also seen improvements to the mobile coverage available.

Transport Infrastructure and Services: Industry Perceptions (PDF, 609.28 kb) (December 2008)

This report was commissioned by Scottish Enterprise in partnership with Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and Highlands & Islands Enterprise to examine how businesses in Scotland - particularly those in the key sectors - view the current level of transport infrastructure and services; use transport infrastructure and services, and how well current infrastructure and services meet business needs and where they act as a constraint. This work reports the results of a survey of 1700 businesses across Scotland.

Cities and place

Small and Medium Sized Cities

Examination of policies and approaches that have stimulated economic growth in city regions of a similar size to Aberdeen City & Shire. Outputs are:

The Place Race (PDF, 1Mb) February 2008

This report is about the relationship between mobility, talent and place. More specifically it is about how four of Scotland's city regions - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow - can influence this complex relationship to attract and retain talented workers.

Understanding the Role of Place in City Regions and Rural Scotland (PDF, 3.84Mb) (April 2008)

This research aims to help us better understand the economic roles of places across Scotland, particularly in the context of city regions and rural areas. A new evidence-based economic typology of places in Scotland was created to understand how and why places change, to highlight the economic roles that they play and the economic development strategies they have adopted over the last 20 years.

Experience of People Who Relocate to Scotland (2006)

This study was commissioned by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, and conducted by TNS System Three Social in 2005/6. It looks to understand why people choose to relocate to Scotland - including returning Scots, people from the rest of the UK and people from outside the UK.

Labour market issues

Futureskills Scotland's Research Online portal provides a single gateway to the most recent and relevant labour market intelligence. It contains details of material on all aspects of labour markets with particular reference to Scotland.

Find out more about Futureskills Scotland's Research Online portal

Rural issues

Download our rural research reports