As the new Scottish Parliament prepares to break for summer recess this weekend, my latest blog highlights what its key priorities should be during this parliamentary term. @futureeconscot.bsky.social looks forward to working with any MSPs who want to turn that vision into reality.

NEW: May’s election reaffirmed Scotland's commitment to delivering a just transition. What must the new Parliament do to deliver this in practice? Our new briefing identifies the key policy priorities for the new parliamentary term 🧵

Disappointing emissions data out today for Scotland. Even Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, acknowledged that a 1% reduction is not what it should be. Thread from us below on key priorities for the new Parliament ⬇️

Scotland is about to go to the polls to decide who will lead the next government in Holyrood. This week we explore the economic backdrop to the Scottish election and examine the policy platforms of the major parties contesting it: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/s...

Today, with just over a week before the Scottish election, we set out our @futureeconscot.bsky.social analysis of party manifestos. We focus on 4 areas key to unlocking a just transition: climate & nature, poverty & inequality, funding the transition, and labour market & the economy.

£17,000 - roughly how much more the average full-time worker in Scotland would be earning today if pre-2008 wage trends had continued. Instead, weak pay growth has coincided with steep rises in essential costs. Read our latest Election Spotlight for more: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/488-el...

Excellent thread from @lmacfarlane.bsky.social unpacking our latest analysis on Scotland's cost of living crisis - featured in the Daily Record today with a pretty intense picture ⬇️ www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌱 It's time to accept reality - private finance isn't going to fix Scotland's nature crisis. It's time for a reset in Scotland’s approach to nature restoration. New blog by @hannawheatley.bsky.social www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/460-ti...

Surely this week's news about the breakdown of Scottish Government's nature finance pilot means its time for a reset in Scotland's approach to restoration? My latest blog for @futureeconscot.bsky.social ⬇️ www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/460-ti...

It's hard to square the economics of private finance + nature restoration, which don't stack up, with the hype from the sector and Scottish Govt (who really want this to work). That's why this guest blog from Tom, who has been on the other side of these attempted deals, provides crucial insight ⬇️

EXCLUSIVE in @theguardian.com: a £100m nature finance deal collapsed - & MSPs weren’t told. Featuring our work on nature restoration and a new guest blog, it’s clear: private investment isn’t going to deliver the nature restoration Scotland needs. Read coverage: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

📣 Kicking off our pre-election spotlight series with a look back over the last Parliament's track record on net zero targets, and what the new Climate Change Plan means for the next Scottish Parliament ⬇️

We welcome the @scottishgreens.org pledge to replace Scotland’s Air Departure Tax with a Frequent Flyer Levy, as our recent paper set out. Here’s why it makes sense 🧵⬇️

📣 TOMORROW: Sharing our wealth to fund Scotland’s future 💰 What does the Scottish public think about wealth inequality & wealth taxation? 🌱 How could tax reforms support a just transition? Join us & @weallscotland.bsky.social to find out! 🎟️ Tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events/wellb...

Interested in how we can most effectively fund Scotland’s future? Come to our free event in the Scottish Parliament next week. Find out more and register to attend below ⬇️

NEW: Scotland can raise £2.3bn a year to protect its social contract and reach net zero, according to our new report released today. Watch👇 Read on for more 🧵

EVENT: Funding Scotland's Future – Tax Reform for a Just Transition. Join us for a timely discussion in the Scottish Parliament with a fantastic panel of speakers. 🗓️ 5 March, 17:30, Committee Room 3. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/funding-sc...

NEW: Scotland’s political leaders are under new pressure to replace the unfair council tax system. New polling from Tax Justice Scotland shows five times as many Scots back reform in the next Parliament as oppose it. 🧵

NEW: Scotland’s Budget has delayed tough choices — not avoided them. With an election in May, caution was to be expected. But while some welcome measures were announced, the long-term challenges haven’t gone away. 🧵

A few days ago, our senior economist, @hannawheatley.bsky.social, gave evidence to the @scotparl.bsky.social Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on the Climate Change Plan's proposals on peatland restoration. 🎥 In this clip, Hanna argues that the government doesn’t have a workable funding model.

"Rather than thinking how do we bring private finance in? We're thinking how do we fund peatland restoration?" @hannawheatley.bsky.social gives evidence to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in @scotparl.bsky.social on the Climate Change Plan's proposals on peatland restoration. 🎥 Watch 👇

📣 What next for community wealth building in Scotland? Our new report asks what it’ll take to turn ambition into action. By our Co-Director @miriambrett.bsky.social, and @neilmcinroy.bsky.social, Global Lead for Community Wealth Building at @democracycollab.bsky.social. 1/13 🧵👇

After weeks of speculation, Rachel Reeves finally delivered her Budget. But how will it impact Scotland? Highlights in 🧵 Read our full analysis 👉 www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/358-ho...

Can private finance fix the nature crisis? In this clip from yesterday’s webinar, Laurie Macfarlane breaks down the 3 reasons why market-led solutions won’t save Scotland’s woodlands and peatlands. Watch full recording to learn about what might: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/355-wa...

While the autumn budget contained some welcome measures, it falls short of what the UK and Scotland need. Read our full response: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/221-re...

Our webinar is TOMORROW & there are only a few tickets remaining! Join our Co-Director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social and Senior Economist @hannawheatley.bsky.social for a discussion on whether private finance can fix the nature crisis. 🗓️25 Nov 12:30-1:30pm 👇Book now: www.eventbrite.com/e/can-privat...

We welcome the decision to take public equity stakes in the Pentland offshore wind farm. Public ownership can help deliver better outcomes for: ✊ Workers 💷The taxpayer 🏭 Supply chains

Shell has exited its ScotWind projects, handing its lease back to Crown Estate Scotland and leaving questions as to what happens next. It's a stark reminder of the risks in relying on distant investors and fossil fuel giants to deliver Scotland’s renewable energy future. www.ft.com/content/b9d0...

Scotland’s offshore wind should power a fairer future - not just profits for distant shareholders. The wind belongs to all of us. We should all have a stake in our energy future. 🧵

“Who is benefitting? How are rewards shared? Are we tackling inequalities rather than exacerbating them?” Our co-director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social spoke to @vickyallan.bsky.social about our recent report on ScotWind for the @heraldscotland.bsky.social:

UK and Scottish governments have pledged £20m to transition North Sea workers into clean energy jobs - a vital step towards a fairer, cleaner economy. But as oil and gas decline accelerates, far more must be done to support workers and communities most affected. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Join us at SNP Conference this weekend! Funding Scotland’s Future: Where Next for the Public Finances? 🗓️ Sunday 12th October 🕘 9:15-10:15am ☕️ Food & refreshments! With: @shonarobison.bsky.social MSP David Phillips @theifs.bsky.social Sara Cowan @swbg.bsky.social Chair: @lmacfarlane.bsky.social

Our recent research has shown that peatland restoration is a poor fit for private finance, unless the Scottish Government bends over backwards to de-risk investment. This ultimately shifts risk onto the public while allowing investors to capture profits. Our work explores a public-led alternative.

“The Scottish Government must take public equity stakes in offshore wind to ensure our people share in the benefits of our resources." Read exclusive coverage of our new ‘Who Owns ScotWind?’ data with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social in the Daily Record:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Who owns Scotland's offshore wind assets? Our new interactive map with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social lets you explore who really owns ScotWind projects – and who stands to benefit Highlights in 🧵 Explore the map 👉 www.futureeconomy.scot/scotwind

“Models that rely on commercial finance could increase project costs by up to 48% – potentially rendering them loss-making” Our new report on nature restoration is covered by the @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2550956...

Instead of private finance, we need public investment for public goods – plus action on systemic barriers: 📈 Reducing financial uncertainty for landowners 💷 Tax reform 🌱 Fairer land ownership 🦌 Tackling deer numbers 👷‍♀️ Building skills & housing www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

Our new report explores Scotland's attempts to attract private finance to meet net zero targets. We model funding options for peat restoration + find private finance could increase costs for projects by 48%. We propose a public-led alternative + policy changes to address non-financial barriers. 👇

Last week John Swinney flew to the US to lobby Trump to cut tariffs on whisky But what impacts are tariffs actually having on Scotland’s economy? Important analysis by our new economist @jujupepe.bsky.social

📢 NEW: Scotland faces a stark choice: act boldly to shape the economy, or be shaped by global forces. Read our second report with @mazzucatom.bsky.social and @iipp-ucl.bsky.social on how to rethink the state around a mission-oriented approach: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

NEW: The wealthiest 2% of Scottish households have more wealth than the poorest 50% combined. New data published today reveals the extent of Scotland’s vast wealth inequality. 🧵

NEW: Alexander Dennis’s decision to halt Scottish manufacturing isn’t just a casualty of market forces It’s a story of how public money has helped to erode Scotland’s industrial base and offshore jobs abroad New analysis by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/260-mi...

🏠 Completions under the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme fell by 22% in 2024/25. The number of homes completed was 7,444, a fall of 2,070 compared to the previous financial year, and the lowest level since 2015/16 (exc. the first year of Covid-19) 🧵

My latest blog for @futureeconscot.bsky.social on the Scottish private rented sector. The gap between tenant protections ending and potential future rent controls starting could undermine them from day one. www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/225-wh... #HousingScotlandBill

tl;dr Scotland will need to ramp up action across a much broader range of devolved areas to decarbonise the economy. @miriambrett.bsky.social and I discuss last week's emissions statistics in our latest blog 👇

“Hard-pressed Scots workers are £15,000 a year worse off than they should be due to flatlining wages.” Our new earnings analysis is covered by the @dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy

Shetland secured community wealth from oil, and now the isles face rapid renewables growth. Our briefing examines how Shetland presents an early test case example for a just energy transition, providing insights for other communities:

Our rural land market analysis is cited in this @nytimes.com article on the Land Reform Bill: "Between 2020 and 2022, the value of rural land jumped by as much as 58 percent in some areas." Our latest report is here: shorturl.at/wB9VK www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/r... @scottishlandcom.bsky.social

Good to talk rural housing with @scottishhousingnews.com podcast, along with @ailsaraeburn.bsky.social Our report published this week urges more active use of public land acquisition to support housing delivery.

Land for Rural Housing report from @scottishlandcom.bsky.social hits the front page of @heraldscotland.bsky.social today. See the report at www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...