If Scotland was like Switzerland, we'd know where we stood

Alan Trench of Devolution Matters has posted this fascinating piece on the reliability of government fiscal data in Wales and Scotland. Wales has no figures to speak of. Scotland has GERS, which is much better and has improved over the years. But GERS is still an estimate, which justs lists revenue etc from Scotland as a proportion of the UK. It takes no account of the particularities of the Scottish economy. Presumably that would mean our successes in oil, other types of energy, skilled engineering etc are not reflected in the official figures - which still, incidentally,show Scotland in surplus. Alan Trench points out it does not have to be that way. The Swiss Cantons produce highly accurate data which reflect precisely how each region of the small country is performing. Now why can't we do that? 

Comments

[Dougthedug]

"Now why can't we do that? "

We can't do that because Westminster would have to do it, we don't have the power.

The problem for Westminster is that if the oil is included then Scotland will almost certainly be economically viable as an independent country.

It's a bit of a cleft stick for unionists. The current story is that Scotland could not survive economically without England but then again they have to show that the Union benefits Scotland.

We have to be shown to be poor but not too poor. A sort of genteel poverty funded by England. Genuine economic figures might make that a difficult story to maintain.

[Mike Smith]

Why can't we do that indeed. The mismanagement of the UK means Westminster needs Scotland's oil - making independence for our nation all the more harder to attain. But not impossible...