I joined the SNP 40 years ago after attending an "Open Debate" between local branch and the Revolutionary Communist Party. It was called "Scotiand the Grave"...
How will Scots and the Scottish economy be protected from the effects of disastrous Freeports and how quickly can they be dismantled post independence? Has planning begun?
Why do you ask? I'm sure you appreciate the difference between Scotland's Green Freeports and those Westminster runs in England, and are ignoring the usual myth makers...
Can you ask how worried she is about the net loss to Scotland of profits from FDI leaving the country - £10.1Bn per year since 1998 according to Scot Gov figures. The economic tools our own currency confers would offer different choices post Indy if it's expedited. Have plans begun?
Are you opposed to FDI in principle? That's quite an extreme position. For a government with investment powers highly limited by Westminster, what would -your- approach to investment be?
Andrew, I've benefitted from FDI for much of my working life. If FDI brings in long term high quality employment in new growing businesses it's great. But increasingly it's buying and milking existing businesses in an 'extractive' manner. Our stats don't differentiate between extractive rent seeking
... and value-creating 'regenerative' investment. If they did and we focused on the regenerative kind, preferably with co investment from SNIB or local investors, we'd be in a better place and the benefits would be clear. This book is pretty worrying reading. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vassal-State-America-Runs-Britain/
Surely it's possible to analyse takeovers Vs new investment? In an enterprise zone wouldn't the enterprise company or Scottish Enterprise be on top of that?
It should be but the bald UK FDI numbers don't, apparently because too difficult, and I'm not aware SG does different. The gap between what's possible and what's done can be very wide. Did you see this?
Although some seem to argue differently, I think there's no doubt that -if- Scot Gov could invest more itself, instead of relying so much on FDI, it would. But we need independence for that.
In favour of the investment in domestic provision and targeted FDI with baked in supply chains, local and national benefit. At the moment it's more of an FDI is good
approach - it can be but as it stands results in a £10.1Bn net loss to Scotland. Are there plans to address the reality of FDI?
One reality of FDI is that government figures currently don't differentiate between someone investing to create new jobs, and someone "investing" by buying a house. Ask her "are there plans to differentiate between extractive and regenerative investment, and prioritise the latter?"
Another reality of FDI is that foreign companies often pay less tax than domestic ones so have an unfair advantage. If that's the case why would an investor domicile here?
Comments
https://yes.servepics.com/green-freeports-good-or-bad/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vassal-State-America-Runs-Britain/
https://bylines.scot/news/scotland/foreign-direct-investment-benefit-or-curse/
approach - it can be but as it stands results in a £10.1Bn net loss to Scotland. Are there plans to address the reality of FDI?