Episode Summary
In this episode, FAI Director Mairi Spowage and Deputy Director João Sousa join economist Hannah Randolph to discuss the new inflation statistics and commitments made in recent manifestos regarding Scotland. We also fact-check a couple of recent claims, including Labour’s assertion that the average household will pay £4,800 more on their mortgage under the Conservatives’ plans and the SNP claim that Scottish GDP per head and productivity have grown faster in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.
Episode Notes
Participants:
Dr Hannah Randolph, Associate Economist, 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
Timestamps:
(0:20) New inflation numbers and BoE interest rate decision
(8:40) Manifesto update: SNP, Scottish Labour, and Scottish Greens
(11:30) Fact-check: £4,800 additional on mortgage payments if the Conservatives win?
(17:20) Fact-check: Have Scottish productivity and GDP per head grown faster than the rest of the UK?
(27:40) Fiscal rules and borrowing to invest
(29:45) What to look out for in FAI coverage of the General Election next week
Authors
Hannah is a Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. She specialises in applied social policy analysis with a focus on social security, poverty and inequality, labour supply, and immigration.
Mairi is the Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, she was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government and has over a decade of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis.
João is Deputy Director and Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, he was a Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Office for Budget Responsibility, where he led on analysis of long-term sustainability of the UK's public finances and on the effect of economic developments and fiscal policy on the UK's medium-term outlook.