Laurie Macfarlane
@lmacfarlane.bsky.social
Co-director @FutureEconScot.bsky.social Fellow UCL IIPP and the Democracy Collaborative. Co-author ‘Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing’
The UK budget increased the rate of tax on property income by 2%. As a devolved area, the Scottish Government needs to decide how to respond.
Scottish landlords already pay different income tax rates to rUK: most pay more, but some pay less.
Scottish landlords already pay different income tax rates to rUK: most pay more, but some pay less.
November 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The UK budget increased the rate of tax on property income by 2%. As a devolved area, the Scottish Government needs to decide how to respond.
Scottish landlords already pay different income tax rates to rUK: most pay more, but some pay less.
Scottish landlords already pay different income tax rates to rUK: most pay more, but some pay less.
Delighted to get my hands on this new book which features a chapter I co-authored with @mazzucatom.bsky.social on state investment banks.
It’s packed with essays covering every aspect of green economic development, published by Oxford University Press.
It’s packed with essays covering every aspect of green economic development, published by Oxford University Press.
November 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Delighted to get my hands on this new book which features a chapter I co-authored with @mazzucatom.bsky.social on state investment banks.
It’s packed with essays covering every aspect of green economic development, published by Oxford University Press.
It’s packed with essays covering every aspect of green economic development, published by Oxford University Press.
We’ll be discussing the findings of our recent report, and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Read more here: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
Read more here: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
We’ll be discussing the findings of our recent report, and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Read more here: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
Read more here: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
Global emissions soared by 2.3% in 2024. This is more than four times higher than the annual average growth rate in the 2010s.
We’re going backwards, not forwards.
We’re going backwards, not forwards.
November 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Global emissions soared by 2.3% in 2024. This is more than four times higher than the annual average growth rate in the 2010s.
We’re going backwards, not forwards.
We’re going backwards, not forwards.
Great to speak at today’s #TaxJusticeScotland conference
As we approach the Scottish election, tax reform must be at the centre of the debate
Thanks to @oxfamscotland.bsky.social and the wider coalition for pulling together a great event
As we approach the Scottish election, tax reform must be at the centre of the debate
Thanks to @oxfamscotland.bsky.social and the wider coalition for pulling together a great event
October 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Great to speak at today’s #TaxJusticeScotland conference
As we approach the Scottish election, tax reform must be at the centre of the debate
Thanks to @oxfamscotland.bsky.social and the wider coalition for pulling together a great event
As we approach the Scottish election, tax reform must be at the centre of the debate
Thanks to @oxfamscotland.bsky.social and the wider coalition for pulling together a great event
Thanks to @severincarrell.bsky.social for speaking to me and writing a great piece
Read the full report 👇
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
Read the full report 👇
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
October 1, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Thanks to @severincarrell.bsky.social for speaking to me and writing a great piece
Read the full report 👇
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
Read the full report 👇
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
It’s also worth noting that the UK’s national debt in 1948 was at all time high of 250% of GDP
Imagine how this would play out under the current fiscal framework? The NHS would be laughed out the building
Imagine how this would play out under the current fiscal framework? The NHS would be laughed out the building
March 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It’s also worth noting that the UK’s national debt in 1948 was at all time high of 250% of GDP
Imagine how this would play out under the current fiscal framework? The NHS would be laughed out the building
Imagine how this would play out under the current fiscal framework? The NHS would be laughed out the building
Firstly, they allege it would help ‘economic and monetary stability’
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
March 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Firstly, they allege it would help ‘economic and monetary stability’
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
Firstly, they allege it would help ‘economic and monetary stability’
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
March 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Firstly, they allege it would help ‘economic and monetary stability’
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
Does this look like an asset that could promote stability? Crypto is the most volatile asset class in the world. States ploughing billions into the market, and announcing this in advance, is unlikely to help
Much of the thinking on this has come from the Bitcoin Policy Institute. They claim there are four imperatives for creating a bitcoin reserve
Let’s take each of these in turn
Let’s take each of these in turn
March 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Much of the thinking on this has come from the Bitcoin Policy Institute. They claim there are four imperatives for creating a bitcoin reserve
Let’s take each of these in turn
Let’s take each of these in turn
The move comes after Trump made $350m from launching a memecoin around his inauguration — that subsequently lost 80% of its value in classic pump and dump fashion
As the @financialtimes.com reports here: www.ft.com/content/cb1d...
As the @financialtimes.com reports here: www.ft.com/content/cb1d...
March 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The move comes after Trump made $350m from launching a memecoin around his inauguration — that subsequently lost 80% of its value in classic pump and dump fashion
As the @financialtimes.com reports here: www.ft.com/content/cb1d...
As the @financialtimes.com reports here: www.ft.com/content/cb1d...
Looks like Trump’s tariff wars are starting to hit the US economy. As more DOGE cuts kick in, I suspect things could get a lot worse
Elon Musk promised that $1 trillion of cuts would supercharge growth to 5%. Let’s see how that goes!
Elon Musk promised that $1 trillion of cuts would supercharge growth to 5%. Let’s see how that goes!
March 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Looks like Trump’s tariff wars are starting to hit the US economy. As more DOGE cuts kick in, I suspect things could get a lot worse
Elon Musk promised that $1 trillion of cuts would supercharge growth to 5%. Let’s see how that goes!
Elon Musk promised that $1 trillion of cuts would supercharge growth to 5%. Let’s see how that goes!
I’m not sure this lot will produce much in the way of “fresh ideas”
It will be more of the same: double down on the London-centric, finance-led economic model that got us into this mess
It will be more of the same: double down on the London-centric, finance-led economic model that got us into this mess
February 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I’m not sure this lot will produce much in the way of “fresh ideas”
It will be more of the same: double down on the London-centric, finance-led economic model that got us into this mess
It will be more of the same: double down on the London-centric, finance-led economic model that got us into this mess
“Put simply, a significant share of the US’s ‘booming’ economy is generated by sickness”
This is an excellent piece by @tejparikh.ft.com on why the US economy is not as thriving as conventional economic metrics imply www.ft.com/content/fd8c...
This is an excellent piece by @tejparikh.ft.com on why the US economy is not as thriving as conventional economic metrics imply www.ft.com/content/fd8c...
February 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
“Put simply, a significant share of the US’s ‘booming’ economy is generated by sickness”
This is an excellent piece by @tejparikh.ft.com on why the US economy is not as thriving as conventional economic metrics imply www.ft.com/content/fd8c...
This is an excellent piece by @tejparikh.ft.com on why the US economy is not as thriving as conventional economic metrics imply www.ft.com/content/fd8c...
Important but terrifying piece from @waleedshahid.bsky.social
Elon Musk’s march through the institutions is rapidly turning the US into an authoritarian kleptocracy
Solidarity to everyone resisting this waleedshahid.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...
Elon Musk’s march through the institutions is rapidly turning the US into an authoritarian kleptocracy
Solidarity to everyone resisting this waleedshahid.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...
February 4, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Important but terrifying piece from @waleedshahid.bsky.social
Elon Musk’s march through the institutions is rapidly turning the US into an authoritarian kleptocracy
Solidarity to everyone resisting this waleedshahid.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...
Elon Musk’s march through the institutions is rapidly turning the US into an authoritarian kleptocracy
Solidarity to everyone resisting this waleedshahid.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...
Donald Trump as President. Elon Musk doing a nazi salute. Department of Government Efficiency
A picture says a thousand words. We’re in for a rocky few years
A picture says a thousand words. We’re in for a rocky few years
January 20, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Donald Trump as President. Elon Musk doing a nazi salute. Department of Government Efficiency
A picture says a thousand words. We’re in for a rocky few years
A picture says a thousand words. We’re in for a rocky few years
Great to speak to the @financialtimes.com about the Scottish Government’s response to the housing crisis
While there are some tentative steps in the right direction, there’s much more to do: on.ft.com/4i01GFP
While there are some tentative steps in the right direction, there’s much more to do: on.ft.com/4i01GFP
November 21, 2024 at 11:50 AM
Great to speak to the @financialtimes.com about the Scottish Government’s response to the housing crisis
While there are some tentative steps in the right direction, there’s much more to do: on.ft.com/4i01GFP
While there are some tentative steps in the right direction, there’s much more to do: on.ft.com/4i01GFP
On the farm land debate: it’s worth noting that over the past 25 years the value of farmland has outperformed housing, commercial property and equities. Only gold has performed better
November 19, 2024 at 5:24 PM
On the farm land debate: it’s worth noting that over the past 25 years the value of farmland has outperformed housing, commercial property and equities. Only gold has performed better
Second, creating a new Scottish Land Agency with the power to purchase, develop and sell land strategically in the public interest
The agency would act as the ‘prime mover’ in the land market, ensuring that enough land is brought forward to deliver housing and infrastructure
The agency would act as the ‘prime mover’ in the land market, ensuring that enough land is brought forward to deliver housing and infrastructure
November 15, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Second, creating a new Scottish Land Agency with the power to purchase, develop and sell land strategically in the public interest
The agency would act as the ‘prime mover’ in the land market, ensuring that enough land is brought forward to deliver housing and infrastructure
The agency would act as the ‘prime mover’ in the land market, ensuring that enough land is brought forward to deliver housing and infrastructure
Firstly, reinstating the ability of public authorities to purchase land at nearer use value. This would enable public bodies to acquire low-cost land, capture land value uplift, and deliver more affordable housing and infrastructure
November 15, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Firstly, reinstating the ability of public authorities to purchase land at nearer use value. This would enable public bodies to acquire low-cost land, capture land value uplift, and deliver more affordable housing and infrastructure
Firstly, reinstating the ability of public authorities to purchase land at nearer use value. This would enable public bodies to acquire low-cost land, capture land value uplift, and deliver more affordable housing and infrastructure
November 15, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Firstly, reinstating the ability of public authorities to purchase land at nearer use value. This would enable public bodies to acquire low-cost land, capture land value uplift, and deliver more affordable housing and infrastructure
As the CMA recognised, the private sector will never be able to meet housing need
Developers prioritise premium properties in high-value areas, at the expense of rural and more affordable housing. They focus on private value, and ignore wider public value
Developers prioritise premium properties in high-value areas, at the expense of rural and more affordable housing. They focus on private value, and ignore wider public value
November 15, 2024 at 1:39 PM
As the CMA recognised, the private sector will never be able to meet housing need
Developers prioritise premium properties in high-value areas, at the expense of rural and more affordable housing. They focus on private value, and ignore wider public value
Developers prioritise premium properties in high-value areas, at the expense of rural and more affordable housing. They focus on private value, and ignore wider public value
As the CMA recently highlighted, over the past decade the number of homes granted planning permission has significantly exceeded new housing supply in Scotland
Clearly planning isn’t the main issue here. What’s going on?
Clearly planning isn’t the main issue here. What’s going on?
November 15, 2024 at 1:38 PM
As the CMA recently highlighted, over the past decade the number of homes granted planning permission has significantly exceeded new housing supply in Scotland
Clearly planning isn’t the main issue here. What’s going on?
Clearly planning isn’t the main issue here. What’s going on?
The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is going to end in flames. They’re two narcissistic psychopaths using each other for their own benefit. It only ends one way
November 14, 2024 at 10:19 PM
The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is going to end in flames. They’re two narcissistic psychopaths using each other for their own benefit. It only ends one way
One of the biggest shifts in housing policy over the past 50 years: we went from subsiding bricks and mortar, to subsidising landlords
November 14, 2024 at 9:39 PM
One of the biggest shifts in housing policy over the past 50 years: we went from subsiding bricks and mortar, to subsidising landlords