{"id":16489,"date":"2022-01-24T09:33:10","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T09:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.economicsobservatory.com\/?post_type=question&p=16489"},"modified":"2022-10-14T16:27:41","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T15:27:41","slug":"scottish-independence-what-are-the-big-economic-questions","status":"publish","type":"question","link":"https:\/\/www.economicsobservatory.com\/test\/scottish-independence-what-are-the-big-economic-questions","title":{"rendered":"Scottish independence: what are the big economic questions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scotland\u2019s first minister has announced the intention to hold a second Scottish independence referendum by the end of 2023<\/a>. This would be a little less than a decade since the 2014 referendum, in which nearly 45% of voters were in favour of Scotland becoming an independent country and just over 55% were against. The UK government has, so far, rejected calls for a second referendum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic issues continue to be at the forefront of arguments for and against Scottish independence. What economic theory and data can be used to help us to understand the issues at the heart of this debate? What do they tell us about the opportunities and challenges of independence for both Scotland and the rest of the UK? And what is left unknown?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scotland\u2019s constitutional debate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2014, the people of Scotland voted 55% to 45% in favour of remaining part of the UK. Turnout was remarkably high at nearly 85% of the electorate, which for the first time included 16 and 17 year olds. Since then, voters in Scotland have remained energised about the constitutional debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1: Map showing the 'yes' voter share in the 2014 referendum<\/h4>\n\n\n
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