The
Geographer
the central issue upon which the
electorate can form a considered
and informed judgement. At the
macroeconomic level, there is
no convincing evidence of the
relative benefit to economic
growth of differing constitutional
arrangements. Indeed, there are
similar weaknesses in assessing
the net impact or credibility of
particular policy promises or
priorities in areas such as income
tax, corporation tax or welfare.
prevailing across the UK as
a whole and over a sustained
period? If they are shown to be
such, then the case for greater
powers and, in extremis, political
independence, is significantly
more compelling.
So, how is this paradox
resolved? If people feel that
their major concern is going
unanswered – whether because
it is unanswerable at this time or
because the answers are riddled
with apparent contradiction or
confusion and complexity that
leaves them none the wiser – the
issue will be, what will then drive
their thinking instead? Will people
adopt a broader understanding
of their likely economic net
benefit that encompasses the
benefits from the public services
that they enjoy or the benefit they
derive from the potential gains
in their environmental and equity
perspectives?
At the level of the fundamental
economic system, I would
suggest that there is an emerging
consensus that currency choice
is one of the top, if not the
top, challenge. This single
decision has such far-reaching
ramifications for the definition of
the entire economic system that,
while a careful analysis of the
policies that each currency choice
might permit or necessitate is
important, ultimately we must
revert to the most basic and,
arguably, the first decision that
should be determined: the
currency one. So, firstly, which
currency system would facilitate
the attainment of society’s
primary objectives and, secondly,
therefore, which constitutional
arrangement would facilitate the
currency system that Scotland
thus requires?
The generosity of the welfare
system has been a prominent
issue in this regard, although the
argument rests on the underlying
values of Scottish society and
the extent to which they are
distinctive and sustained over
decades. Indeed, it highlights
a key piece of the debate: are
Scottish values substantively
distinct in a wide range of
areas of economic, social and
environmental life from those
It is worth noting that, if people
are indeed motivated by personal
economic outcomes, then, while
the technical debate may seem
dry and obscure, it is nonetheless
pivotal.
The striking interventions of the
UK Chancellor, Scottish First
Minister, and other politicians
in February demonstrated
the centrality of the currency
question. The declaration
by pro-union leaders that an
independe