In our 100th podcast episode, FAI Director Mairi Spowage and Deputy Director João Sousa join economist Hannah Randolph to discuss what was announced in the UK budget statement and how it will affect Scotland. We also talk about whether OBR publications alongside the budget shed more light on the budgetary "black hole" left by the previous government, and whether or not this budget signals a significant change in UK fiscal policy.

Participants

Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Time stamps

(0:20) How will the tax decisions taken in yesterday's budget affect people in Scotland?

(9:10) How might the announcements yesterday influence the Scottish budget in December?

(17:30) What has changed about the fiscal rules and what impact has it had?

(29:50) Does this budget signal a change in the direction of UK fiscal policy?

Deputy Director João Sousa joins FAI economist Hannah Randolph to discuss our expectations for the budget statement on Wednesday as well as what we can learn from past chancellors' first budgets and the role of the OBR in the budget process.

To read more about past chancellors' first budgets, check out the details here: https://fraserofallander.org/publications/uk-budget-preview-3-first-budgets-of-post-war-chancellors/

Participants

Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Time stamps

(0:20) What do other chancellors' first budgets tell us about what to expect in Rachel Reeves' first budget statement?

(6:00) What historical budgets happened in similar conditions to the present and what can we learn from them?

(10:24) How has the role of the OBR in the budget process changed over time?

(17:20) What do we expect in the budget statement on Wednesday?

In this episode, Brodie Gillan is joined by Chirsty McFadyen, and Laura Robertson, who is a Research Manager at the Poverty Alliance. Brodie, Chirsty, and Laura discuss the Serving the Future project in the context of Challenge Poverty Week.

Serving the Future is a three-year action research project working with hospitality employers and workers funded by the Robertson Trust. The project is seeking to understand, reduce and prevent in-work poverty and identify changes that could be made within the hospitality sector.

You can find out more about Serving the Future here: https://www.servingthefuture.scot/

You can learn more about the Poverty Alliance & Challenge Poverty Week here: https://www.povertyalliance.org/

Participants

Brodie Gillan, Assistant Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Chirsty McFadyen, Associate Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Laura Robertson, Research Manager, Poverty Alliance

Timestamps

(00:47) What is Serving the Future?
(03:06) What is Challenge Poverty Week and how does it relate to Serving the Future?
(05:20) Why did we focus on the hospitality sector for this project?
(07:20) What are the main challenges facing low-paid workers in the hospitality sector?
(15:55) What conversations have we had with hospitality employers throughout the project?
(22:31) What can listeners learn about in-work poverty?
(27:02) What’s next for Serving the Future?