Stephen Boyd
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social
Director IPPR Scotland
Views my own
Views my own
Been wearing this t-shirt for the last 15 years so it's nice to see the OBR (kinda) catch-up.
Considering the productivity revision was of such importance to this budget the treatment of structural drivers/sectoral composition is worryingly flimsy. Not a single ref to Baumol in 60 pgs. Remarkable.
Considering the productivity revision was of such importance to this budget the treatment of structural drivers/sectoral composition is worryingly flimsy. Not a single ref to Baumol in 60 pgs. Remarkable.
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Been wearing this t-shirt for the last 15 years so it's nice to see the OBR (kinda) catch-up.
Considering the productivity revision was of such importance to this budget the treatment of structural drivers/sectoral composition is worryingly flimsy. Not a single ref to Baumol in 60 pgs. Remarkable.
Considering the productivity revision was of such importance to this budget the treatment of structural drivers/sectoral composition is worryingly flimsy. Not a single ref to Baumol in 60 pgs. Remarkable.
November 21, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Peak firework season seems like a good time to recall Baumol's advice that we worry too much about the rising relative costs of good things (health, social care) and not nearly enough about the declining relative costs of bad things (fireworks, guns, cars)
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Peak firework season seems like a good time to recall Baumol's advice that we worry too much about the rising relative costs of good things (health, social care) and not nearly enough about the declining relative costs of bad things (fireworks, guns, cars)
Standing room only for @ipprscotland.bsky.social SNP conference fringe on 'GB Energy and the acceleration of renewables in Scotland' with Stephen Flynn MP, Damien Zachlod, ENBW and Zoe Holiday, Community Energy Scotland and @davehawkey.bsky.social
October 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Standing room only for @ipprscotland.bsky.social SNP conference fringe on 'GB Energy and the acceleration of renewables in Scotland' with Stephen Flynn MP, Damien Zachlod, ENBW and Zoe Holiday, Community Energy Scotland and @davehawkey.bsky.social
Too misty for summit views on Beinn Eighe today but still...
July 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Too misty for summit views on Beinn Eighe today but still...
My column from yesterday's Herald Business supplement.
"It's difficult not to be critical of the Scottish government for the ever-diminishing purpose and clarity around economic policy in Scotland
"It's difficult not to be critical of the Scottish government for the ever-diminishing purpose and clarity around economic policy in Scotland
July 4, 2025 at 9:32 AM
My column from yesterday's Herald Business supplement.
"It's difficult not to be critical of the Scottish government for the ever-diminishing purpose and clarity around economic policy in Scotland
"It's difficult not to be critical of the Scottish government for the ever-diminishing purpose and clarity around economic policy in Scotland
'...Starter argued that "migration is part of Britain's national story and an essential element of a strong economy". He was right, even if his own rhetoric often fails to reflect this reality'
My piece in today's @dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy responding to publication of the white paper
My piece in today's @dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy responding to publication of the white paper
May 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
'...Starter argued that "migration is part of Britain's national story and an essential element of a strong economy". He was right, even if his own rhetoric often fails to reflect this reality'
My piece in today's @dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy responding to publication of the white paper
My piece in today's @dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy responding to publication of the white paper
My piece from yesterday's @heraldscotland.bsky.social Business Supplement.
Trump has provided an object lesson in bad economy policy-making. But it would pay not to get too smug about US failures...
Trump has provided an object lesson in bad economy policy-making. But it would pay not to get too smug about US failures...
May 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
My piece from yesterday's @heraldscotland.bsky.social Business Supplement.
Trump has provided an object lesson in bad economy policy-making. But it would pay not to get too smug about US failures...
Trump has provided an object lesson in bad economy policy-making. But it would pay not to get too smug about US failures...
Lovely clear morning on the top of Ben Ime
May 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Lovely clear morning on the top of Ben Ime
Diamond Hill, Connemara
April 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Diamond Hill, Connemara
Ditto single parent with two children
March 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Ditto single parent with two children
a bit better, but not much, for one-earner couples with 2 children
March 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
a bit better, but not much, for one-earner couples with 2 children
Your regular reminder that UK unemployment benefits in the first year of unemployment - and especially for single people - are very low.
Source: Eurostat
Source: Eurostat
March 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Your regular reminder that UK unemployment benefits in the first year of unemployment - and especially for single people - are very low.
Source: Eurostat
Source: Eurostat
My column from yesterday's @heraldscotland.bsky.social supplement.
Wholly unacceptable that the UK's can't currently produce reliable labour market stats.
Returning to pre-covid response rates might represent a significant improvement but the UK would still compare badly to other nations...
Wholly unacceptable that the UK's can't currently produce reliable labour market stats.
Returning to pre-covid response rates might represent a significant improvement but the UK would still compare badly to other nations...
March 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
My column from yesterday's @heraldscotland.bsky.social supplement.
Wholly unacceptable that the UK's can't currently produce reliable labour market stats.
Returning to pre-covid response rates might represent a significant improvement but the UK would still compare badly to other nations...
Wholly unacceptable that the UK's can't currently produce reliable labour market stats.
Returning to pre-covid response rates might represent a significant improvement but the UK would still compare badly to other nations...
Should Scotland's 'vast number' of 'economic agencies' be 'reformed' out of existence? Nah.
My column from yesterday's Herald Business HQ supplement
My column from yesterday's Herald Business HQ supplement
February 7, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Should Scotland's 'vast number' of 'economic agencies' be 'reformed' out of existence? Nah.
My column from yesterday's Herald Business HQ supplement
My column from yesterday's Herald Business HQ supplement
This one is think? On a train so difficult to get a good pic...
January 13, 2025 at 8:15 PM
This one is think? On a train so difficult to get a good pic...
Re-reading this utterly essential book on the 10th anniversary of its publication.
Incredibly frustrating that the 'welfare myth of them and us' has become even more deeply embedded during this period.
Incredibly frustrating that the 'welfare myth of them and us' has become even more deeply embedded during this period.
January 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Re-reading this utterly essential book on the 10th anniversary of its publication.
Incredibly frustrating that the 'welfare myth of them and us' has become even more deeply embedded during this period.
Incredibly frustrating that the 'welfare myth of them and us' has become even more deeply embedded during this period.
Can we revive manufacturing jobs?
My piece from last week's Herald Business supplement
My piece from last week's Herald Business supplement
December 12, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Can we revive manufacturing jobs?
My piece from last week's Herald Business supplement
My piece from last week's Herald Business supplement
"the apparent rise since 2019 in the share of working-age Britons neither in work nor looking for a job is now thought to have been illusory"
How much will the LFS's catastrophic deterioration end up costing us?
Great work as always by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
on.ft.com/41jY8II via @FT
How much will the LFS's catastrophic deterioration end up costing us?
Great work as always by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
on.ft.com/41jY8II via @FT
December 6, 2024 at 7:35 AM
"the apparent rise since 2019 in the share of working-age Britons neither in work nor looking for a job is now thought to have been illusory"
How much will the LFS's catastrophic deterioration end up costing us?
Great work as always by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
on.ft.com/41jY8II via @FT
How much will the LFS's catastrophic deterioration end up costing us?
Great work as always by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
on.ft.com/41jY8II via @FT
Got a comment piece in the Herald's Business HQ supplement today. Will post link when it goes online
December 5, 2024 at 10:44 AM
Got a comment piece in the Herald's Business HQ supplement today. Will post link when it goes online
Say She She were predictably amazing at the Fruitmarket this evening
November 24, 2024 at 11:09 PM
Say She She were predictably amazing at the Fruitmarket this evening
Obligatory snow pic
November 23, 2024 at 10:51 AM
Obligatory snow pic
From slides presented by Ailsa Henderson to this seminar. I'm assuming source is the Scottish Election Study
November 14, 2024 at 8:14 PM
From slides presented by Ailsa Henderson to this seminar. I'm assuming source is the Scottish Election Study
From Ailsa Henderson's excellent presentation at today's seminar
November 14, 2024 at 8:05 PM
From Ailsa Henderson's excellent presentation at today's seminar