Constitutional change and inequality in Scotland
Comerford, David ; Eiser, David
Oxford Review of Economic Policy
2014
30
2
Summer
346-373
constitution ; fiscal policy ; income distribution ; social inequality
Income distribution
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/gru014
English
Bibliogr.
"What scope does a sub-national economy have to affect the level of inequality? Does a policy menu consistent with the theories of fiscal federalism provide for an ability to affect inequality measures, or does this ability require the powers of a nation state? In this paper we discuss these questions in the context of the debate around the Scottish independence referendum, in which inequality has played a prominent role, and ask whether independence, further devolution, or simply different policies under the current constitutional framework are capable of helping Scotland make the transition to a less unequal income distribution. We provide a series of estimates of the impact of different policy choices upon inequality in Scotland, and discuss inequality reduction in the context of different constitutional options."
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