- Home
- Publications
- Can An Ageing Scotland Afford Independence?
Can an Ageing Scotland Afford Independence?
Downloads
Can Ageing Scotland Afford IndependenceAuthors
External Authors
Marcel Mérette
Related Themes
Productivity, Trade, and Regional EconomiesIn the light of the current Scottish independence debate, much attention is being paid to whether Scotland and the rest of the UK (RUK) will be better off after the separation. Fiscal challenges are often quoted as a strong argument against independence. Demographic processes play an important role in determining future economic growth via their impact on labour market, saving behaviour and government budget. One of the arguments that have been raised during the debate is that Scotland is in a worse demographic situation than RUK, and independence will make it harder for it to provide for its ageing population. In 2012, the old-age dependency ratio1 (OADR) in Scotland and RUK was the same at 29%. However, in the future the Scottish population is projected to age more rapidly, and by 2037 OADR in Scotland will reach 48%, while in RUK 45%2. However, by 2050 OADR in two regions will converge again.
Related Blog Posts
Exploring the Data on UK Productivity Performance
Issam Samiri
Stephen Millard
11 Dec 2023
4 min read
UK Investment Past and Prospects: A Framework for Analysis
Catherine Mann
01 Dec 2023
6 min read
Where Are We With Regional Inequalities in the UK?
Adrian Pabst
Jagjit S. Chadha
01 Nov 2023
5 min read
Related Projects
Related News
Related Publications
Productivity and Investment: Time to Manage the Project of Renewal
12 Mar 2024
UK Productivity Commission
UK Households Should Start Feeling Better Off as Election Looms
07 Feb 2024
UK Economic Outlook
Low to Middle Income Households Facing Seven Years of Falling Living Standards
08 Nov 2023
UK Economic Outlook