Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS): a look beyond nearly 30 years of controversy at what it does and doesn't tell us about Scotland

Roy, G. and Spowage, M. (2021) Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS): a look beyond nearly 30 years of controversy at what it does and doesn't tell us about Scotland. Scottish Affairs, 30(4), pp. 423-449. (doi: 10.3366/scot.2021.0383)

Abstract

Government Expenditure Revenue Scotland (GERS) remains a controversial statistical publication on Scotland’s public finances. We trace the evolution of GERS over time, and track how it has been used in political debate since it was first published in 1992. Now in its 27th edition, we review its ongoing role in informing constitutional and fiscal debate in Scotland. We dispel some of the myths about the publication, but also highlight legitimate criticisms, and explore how it is used by both sides in the independence debate. Our main contribution is to summarise what GERS tells us – and crucially what it does not tell us – about the state of Scotland’s economy and public finances. We conclude with an assessment of what GERS might tell us about the prospects for any future debate on Scottish independence.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Roy, Professor Graeme
• Authors: Roy, G., and Spowage, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences; College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
• Journal Name: Scottish Affairs
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• ISSN: 0966-0356
• ISSN (Online): 2053-888X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Edinburgh University Press
• First Published: First published in Scottish Affairs 30(4): 423-449
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy