Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - November 2024 Insights
Past event: Monday 25 November 2024
The latest results for the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, suggest a growing lack of optimism over the last three months and pose big questions for Shona Robison ahead of the Scottish Budget.
Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager of the Diffley Partnership presented the latest findings from data collected at the beginning of November, including:
More than 1 in 6 people (17%) report strained relationships at home because of money
1 in 6 Scots (16%) report an impact on their physical health due to worries about money
1 in 3 people (32%) report an impact on their mental health due to worries about money
Only 15% say that concerns about money matters have not affected them
3 out of 4 people (75%) believe the economy works primarily in the interests of wealthy people
We were delighted to be joined by Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at Natwest Group and Tejesh Mistry, Chief Executive at Voluntary Health Scotland. There was also a special guest reflection from Danny Dorling, the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at University of Oxford.
The event was kindly supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Credit: Allan Lloyds, Live to Air
Find out more about the research:
About the Speakers:
Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager, The Diffley Partnership
Scott joined the Diffley Partnership following previous roles in social research in the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Since joining the business he has managed a wide range of research projects including two of Diffley Partnership’s regular quarterly surveys in Understanding Scotland and Understanding Business
Scott has significant expertise in statistical data analysis, research design, management of research projects and communication and has worked on several high profile and high impact projects. He has a degree in Political Research from the University of Strathclyde.
Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist, Natwest Group
Sebastian joined the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2009 and has been Chief Economist for NatWest Group since 2018. His areas of interest include how society adapts to an ageing population; the economics of the climate transition; impact of technology and AI on jobs; the shift to defined contribution pension schemes and the microanalysis of customer transaction data.
Before joining RBS, Sebastian worked as an Economist for Ofcom and PwC. Sebastian holds degrees in Economics from a BSc in Economics from London School of Economics, and an MSc in Economics from The University of Edinburgh. Sebastian is Trustee Director of NatWest Group Retirement Savings Trustee Ltd.
Tejesh Mistry, Chief Executive Officer, Voluntary Health Scotland
Tejesh joined Voluntary Health Scotland as Chief Executive in March 2024. Tejesh has a wealth of experience, working as Director of External Affairs at Venture Trust for 4 years until August 2023; and was Interim Director for Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLan), a Third Sector Interface.
Tejesh previously held senior roles with the Royal Voluntary Service and with Cycling UK where he led behaviour change programmes to reduce loneliness and to improve physical and mental wellbeing. He was appointed to the Board of Sport Scotland in April 2022.
Danny Dorling, The Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at University of Oxford
Danny Dorling joined the School of Geography and the Environment in September 2013 to take up the Halford Mackinder Professorship in Geography. He was previously a professor of Geography at the University of Sheffield. He has also worked in Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds and New Zealand, went to university in Newcastle upon Tyne, and to school in Oxford.
His work focuses on housing, health, employment, education and poverty. and his work concerns core issues affecting the economy: housing, health, employment, education, inequality and poverty.
