Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - May 2024 Insights
Catch up with results and insights from Wave 11 of the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET) - a quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland.
This event launched the latest findings in our quarterly research series. Our regular survey with the Diffley Partnership helps us to understand and monitor changes in economic attitudes and public opinion over time.
Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager at the Diffley Partnership, presented the latest findings. The recent data shows that healthcare and the cost of living are at the forefront of voters’ minds ahead of the General Election.
We were delighted to be joined by Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at NatWest Group and João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute who give their reflections and insights on the results.
The event was kindly hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Video credit: Allan Lloyds, Live to Air.
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - February 2024 Insights
Catch up with the February 2024 results from the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET). Hear the results and reflections from guest panellists and the audience.
Past event: 28th February 2024
This event launched the latest results from the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET) - a quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland undertaken in partnership with the Diffley partnership.
Mark Diffley, Director of the Diffley Partnership presented the latest findings which track economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Mark was joined by Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute and Kevin Havelock, Regional Director Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland to reflect on the results which came a week ahead of the Spring Budget at Westminister.
The event was kindly hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
About the speakers:
Mark Diffley, Director and Founder of the Diffley Partnership
Mark has spent 25 years delivering research, polling and insights for organisations in all sectors, including for governments, the third sector and companies across the business sector.
After working with a number of agencies in the research sector, Mark set up Diffley Partnership in 2017 and works with a brilliant team in Edinburgh to ensure that our research and insights are of the highest quality, enabling his clients to make important decisions with confidence.
Mairi Spowage, Professor of Practice and Director of the Fraser Allander Institute
Mairi’s areas of expertise include economic policy, economic statistics, national accounting, public sector finances, and economic and fiscal forecasting. Mairi leads on the Institute's work with various partners, including those in business, the public and third sector.
Mairi is leading on various projects to improve economic measurement and the use of economic insights to improve policy decisions in Scotland and beyond. She also leads the programme to encourage graduates into careers in analysis through the Economic Futures programme.
Mairi is on the Leadership team of the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy and the Economics Statistics Centre of Excellence. Previously, Mairi was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government, and has over 15 years of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis, including transport, household surveys and performance measurement.
Kevin Havelock, Regional Director Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland
Kevin joined the Royal Bank of Scotland as a graduate trainee over 25 years ago, working in various teams before specialising in relationship management and moving into Corporate and Business Banking. He has a degree in Politics from the University of Aberdeen and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot Watt University. Kevin is also currently a Governing Council Member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and previously served for six years as Treasurer of the charity, Families Outside.
Read more about the research.
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - November 2023 Insights
The Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, produced in partnership with the Diffley Partnership, marks its second birthday, showing many Scots continue to take extreme measures to navigate turbulent economic times.
This briefing of the latest results Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, produced by the David Hume Institute and the Diffley Partnership, marks its second birthday, showing many Scots continue to take extreme measures to navigate turbulent economic times:
Mark Diffley, Director of the Diffley Partnership and Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager present the top ten insights from the latest tracker results and with reflections on the long term implications of the data:
1 in 6 people (17%) report skipping meals
1 in 5 people are using ‘buy now pay later’ payment plans
2 out of 3 people (67%) are not putting the heating on to reduce costs
For many, the ongoing challenges with the cost of living are dominating their lives with:
3 in 10 (29%) Scots tell us they are losing sleep due to their personal finances
Many Scots are living with severe financial precarity:
3 in 10 people (28%) are not confident of covering a £100 emergency expense – up three percentage points since February 2023.
This rises to 1 in 2 (49%) for an emergency expense of £500.
The survey also shows 8 in 10 Scots perceive the economy as favouring the wealthy (78%), while 53% believe it primarily serves business interests. Only 1 in 10 (10%) believe that the economy works in their own interest.
Understanding Scotland economy tracker August 2023
Why does the latest Understanding Scotland economy tracker (USET) raise concerns about government policy on nutrition? And how is this a ticking time bomb for public health, the labour market and productivity? Consider these questions and many more in August’s USET results discussion.
This event launched the latest findings in our quarterly research series. Our regular survey with the Diffley Partnership helps us to understand and monitor changes in economic attitudes and public opinion over time.
The recent data have shown that skipping meals and cutting down on portion sizes have consistently been coping strategies for up to a quarter of Scottish households as the cost of living has risen.
In this session, Mark Diffley presented the latest tracker results and then we will reflect on the long term implications of the data by asking: is this household response to financial stress a long-term risk to public health and the economy?
To help us explore this question, Kate Elliot, from Rathbone Greenbank Investments, will join us. Her team led the creation of the Investor Coalition on Food Policy - a group of 23 investors representing over £6 trillion in assets under management. The work analyses the systemic risks and compelling business case for investors to include the negative impact of poor dietary health on the workforce and economic growth.
Mark and Kate were joined by Pete Ritchie, Executive Director of Nourish Scotland. Pete will reflect on the new data from his perspective after many years experience of working to bring change towards a healthier, more sustainable food system.
In the light of recent reports that the average height of UK five year olds is slipping behind other European nations and established evidence that poor diets contribute to four out of the top five risk factors for early death, ill health and disability in Scotland we felt the time is right to ask what action business and policy-makers can take to help avert another growing crisis.
Read the research insights
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker May 2023
Find out more about our Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker discussion from May 2023.
This in-person event discussed the latest insights from the Understanding Scotland quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations and was hosted by Ashurst.
Our regular survey tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion. Mark Diffley, from the Diffley Partnership shared the latest data and analysis providing vital information for decision-makers across all sectors. We then heard reflections from Junaid Ashraf of the Scottish Asian Business Chamber and Victoria Carson from The Wise Group.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and political pollster with over 20 years’ experience. He founded The Diffley Partnership in 2017. The company delivers research, insight and evidence-led recommendations for clients across the public, private and third sectors in Scotland and further afield.
Junaid Ashraf is co-founder of the Scottish Asian Business Chamber, an organisation established with the support of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to improve ethnic minority inclusion in the wider business community. He is formerly a Councillor in North Lanarkshire and a race equality advocate based in Scotland.
Victoria Carson is Director of Engagement at leading social enterprise, the Wise Group. Prior to the Wise Group she led the Scotland Office of the General Medical Council and has held senior roles at the British Library and the Care Quality Commission.
Understanding Scotland: public perceptions of the economy
Catch up with the February 2023 findings of our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland: Economy, which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Past event: 1st March 2023
On Wednesday 1st March 2023 we discussed the latest insights from our most recent Understanding Scotland quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations. Our regular survey tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor public opinion.
For this event we were joined by Mark Diffley, Shona McCarthy and David Eiser. The conversation brought to life what is valuable data and essential information for decision makers in all sectors.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and political pollster with over 20 years’ experience.
Shona McCarthy joined the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society as Chief Executive 7 years ago. Shona has championed the Edinburgh Fringe as the world’s leading performing arts festival and expo, founded on the principles of open access and freedom of expression.
David Eiser, is Director of Research, Analysis and Investigations at Consumer Scotland, the recently established statutory organisation for consumers in Scotland.