“In a new report, Future Economy Scotland said relying on investors such as banks, pension funds and asset managers was wasteful and counterproductive.” Our report on why private finance won’t fix the nature crisis is covered in @theguardian.com 👇

We’ve long been promised that private finance will fix the nature crisis. But our new report shows why the economics don’t stack up — and why we need a public-led alternative instead More here 👇

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 shows that relying on private finance for woodland creation and peatland restoration risks: ⬆️ Driving up costs by up to 48% 💸 Diverting taxpayer money to investor profits 🐌 Slowing Scotland’s path to net zero

🚨 NEW: We’ve been told for years that private finance will fix Scotland’s nature crisis. Our new research shows why it won’t – and sets out a bold public-led alternative. Highlights in 🧵 Read full report 👉 www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

As fears mount over the impact of Trump's tariffs on Scottish industries, what does the data tell us? While UK exports to the US fell by 13% over the past year, Scottish exports actually grew by 8%. Find out more in our latest blog by @jujupepe.bsky.social www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/322-ho...

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: How are Trump’s tariffs impacting Scotland’s economy? In a new blog, our economist @jujupepe.bsky.social explores the latest data, and finds that Scotland's exports are defying expectations – for now. But significant risks lie ahead.

Our new briefing, 'Beyond Business as Usual', sets out 11 bold, practical policy priorities for the 2026 Scottish election. We know what’s possible. Now we need the political will to deliver. 📖 Read here: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

One year ago today the Scottish Government published its Green Industrial Strategy. In our new joint report, @mazzucatom.bsky.social and @lmacfarlane.bsky.social argue that it must go further to harness all tools to drive economic transformation. 📖 Read here: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

“As other countries use ambitious industrial policies to reshape their economies, Scotland can’t afford to sit on the sidelines.” Read the op-ed by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social and @mazzucatom.bsky.social in The Scotsman on our new report with @iipp-ucl.bsky.social

Delighted to publish the second report in our collaboration with @mazzucatom.bsky.social and @iipp-ucl.bsky.social The Scottish Government is talking the talk on industrial strategy, but is not yet walking the walk. Our new report suggests a way forward🧵

Scotland's economy is at a critical juncture. New report w @lmacfarlane.bsky.social shows how a mission-oriented approach can transform Scotlands chronic low investment into an engine for inclusive growth. Time to move beyond a market-fixing state to proactively shape Scotlands economy 1/2

Impressive report by @iipp-ucl.bsky.social, @mazzucatom.bsky.social & @lmacfarlane.bsky.social on the need for a more coherent Scottish govt industrial strategy which goes beyond govt rhetoric. The sort of public policy intervention we need more of in Scotland. www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/pub...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Creating a green, fair and growing Scotland The new report by IIPP Professor @mazzucatom.bsky.social and @lmacfarlane.bsky.social outlines how a mission-oriented approach can revitalise Scotland’s economy, transition to net zero, and tackle inequalities. ✍️ Read more here: buff.ly/Sg5bhEu

📢 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: UK taxpayers are losing £22 billion every year from losses at the Bank of England - the same as the entire Home Office annual budget. This is the result of a flawed implementation of the BoE's quantitative easing programme. We propose two steps to fix this leak. (1/4)

TOMORROW, our team will be joining two free, online events, which will delve into how Scotland can deliver a fairer, greener future. We’d love for you to take part in the conversations. Details in 🧵 below.

As MSPs return to Holyrood next week, the 2026 election looms. It must be a turning point. Towards a democratic, sustainable and just economy. Our new briefing sets out 11 ways Scotland can change course. Read our summary here: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/290-th...

Read the full briefing: ‘Beyond Business-as-Usual – Policy priorities for the 2026 Scottish election’ 👇

NEW: Scotland is at a crossroads of crises. The 2026 election must be a turning point towards transformative action. Our new briefing sets out 11 bold, practical ideas to tackle the country’s biggest challenges. It’s time to move beyond business-as-usual 👇

Next year’s Scottish election must move beyond business-as-usual Read our new briefing setting out 11 policy priorities for transformative change👇

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. 🧵

The fact that we instantly ended homelessness during the pandemic, and then let it return as some intractable problem straight after, is something we really don’t talk about enough.

Scotland’s energy future must be built with workers, not at their expense. This powerful piece in the ‪@scotsman.com‬‬ from a former offshore worker makes it plain: there’s no future in oil, but there can be one for the people who built the industry. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

NEW: Reaching net-zero will be much cheaper than previously thought, and the cost of climate breakdown far more severe, according to the OBR. The amount of investment needed to reach net zero will be just over half as much as previously thought: obr.uk/frs/fiscal-r...

As Trump visits Scotland, tariffs have been high on the agenda. The US is Scotland’s second-largest trading partner. What does Trump’s tariff war mean for Scotland’s economy? 🧵

The loss of 400 jobs at Alexander Dennis wasn’t inevitable It’s what happens when public money is used to back overseas rivals over Scottish industry Read our new blog by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social:

While other countries implement bold industrial strategies, Scotland is using taxpayer subsidies to erode our industrial base and offshore jobs abroad My analysis on the loss of 400 jobs at Alexander Dennis 👇

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...

NEW: Green jobs in Scotland increased by 7,500 over the past year, rising to a record high of 33,500 We welcome strong progress in areas like energy efficiency and low carbon vehicles, but some areas of concern remain 🧵

New research from Robert Gordon Uni finds that without action, 58,000 oil and gas jobs could be lost by the early 2030s — equivalent of the closure of Grangemouth every two weeks 🤯

What Farage is saying here is “Scotland needs more austerity” He knows that would be a catastrophically unpopular message, so he’s dancing round it. But that’s what he’s saying

This is true, but we also need to recognise that some industries are strategically more critical than others for a whole host of reasons Contribution to GDP tells you very little about this

When even the IMF says your fiscal rules are too strict, you know they’re really bad…

Among his other interesting comments today, President Trump has alleged that there's a century worth of oil & gas drilling left in the North Sea that the UK should incentivise in order to get energy costs down. Let's take a closer look at the veracity of that idea, shall we? /1

Attempting to drill baby drill our way out of an aging basin with a decreasing rate of production and enormous job losses over the past decade - despite huge government support - is doomed to fail. Our response to Donald Trump’s illogical intervention today:

Real earnings in Scotland have flatlined since 2008. How much has this cost Scots in their pay packet? The answer: £15,000 Read more in our new blog by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social:

If earnings in Scotland grew as normal since 2008 rather than flatlined, the average worker would be £15,000 better off This is the price of sustained economic failure

“Rather than scapegoating migrants for the country’s economic failures, the debate must focus on the real culprit: a broken economic model.” My comment in the Daily Record on Scotland’s earnings squeeze:

Commenting on the analysis, our co-director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social said:

NEW: Average earnings in Scotland are £15,000 lower than they would have been if wages hadn’t flatlined since the 2008 financial crisis If real earnings had instead grown in line with pre-crisis trends, today the average full-time worker would be earning £53,923

How can Scotland deliver a just transition in the labour market? Join our webinar! Speakers include: 📣 Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment 📣 Satwat Rehman, Just Transition Commission Co-Chair 📣 Dave Moxham, STUC Deputy General Secretary 👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/how-can-sc...

Shetland built significant community wealth from oil. Given this precedent, should the isles accept business-as-usual approaches for renewables? This briefing dives into the ownership of renewables in Shetland, drawing on lessons from the isles as an early test case example for a just transition.

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:

In case you missed it, our latest webinar explores how to maximise the benefits of Scotland’s offshore wind. We were joined by a panel of expert speakers: Emma Harrick, Ewan Gibbs and Kateryna McKinnon. You can watch it in full here:

Join Future Economy Scotland’s webinar today at 6pm exploring how to maximise the benefits of offshore wind. Featuring: ⚡️Ewan Gibbs, Glasgow university ⚡️Emma Harrick, Scottish Renewables ⚡️Kateryna McKinnon, Crown Estate Scotland Sign up below👇

Tonight!⚡️How can Scotland maximise the benefits of offshore wind? Join us at 18:00 for a webinar where expert speakers will explore how offshore wind projects can maximise benefits for supply chains, workers, taxpayers and communities. Sign up here! www.eventbrite.com/e/how-can-sc...

How can Scotland maximise the benefits of offshore wind? Join us at 18:00 on Tuesday for a webinar where a panel of expert speakers will explore how offshore wind projects can maximise benefits for supply chains, workers, taxpayers, and communities. Sign up here! www.eventbrite.com/e/how-can-sc...

On Tuesday @futureeconscot.bsky.social will be hosting a webinar focusing on how to maximise the economic benefits of offshore wind Sign up here 👇