Stephen Boyd
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social
Director IPPR Scotland
Views my own
Views my own
My latest @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on economic growth and the looming Holyrood election.
"What might prove elusive are clear and coherent explanations of why...growth remains a legitimate aspiration but one that is increasingly hard to achieve"
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2582...
"What might prove elusive are clear and coherent explanations of why...growth remains a legitimate aspiration but one that is increasingly hard to achieve"
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2582...
Why the case for growth in Scotland needs restated and how to do it
When making their case for growth, politicians would do well to focus on creating a shared national purpose around broadly based prosperity
www.heraldscotland.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:58 PM
My latest @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on economic growth and the looming Holyrood election.
"What might prove elusive are clear and coherent explanations of why...growth remains a legitimate aspiration but one that is increasingly hard to achieve"
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2582...
"What might prove elusive are clear and coherent explanations of why...growth remains a legitimate aspiration but one that is increasingly hard to achieve"
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2582...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
💷 Why do the costs of health, education & care services seem to rise relentlessly?
In our latest blog we turn to William Baumol to explain why it pays to be cautious about rapid productivity growth/lower costs in people driven services.
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social🖊️
www.ippr.org/articles/ret...
In our latest blog we turn to William Baumol to explain why it pays to be cautious about rapid productivity growth/lower costs in people driven services.
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social🖊️
www.ippr.org/articles/ret...
Rethinking public sector productivity | IPPR
The Spending Review published alongside the 2026-27 Budget commits the Scottish government to a programme of reform ‘designed to protect frontline services
www.ippr.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:09 AM
💷 Why do the costs of health, education & care services seem to rise relentlessly?
In our latest blog we turn to William Baumol to explain why it pays to be cautious about rapid productivity growth/lower costs in people driven services.
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social🖊️
www.ippr.org/articles/ret...
In our latest blog we turn to William Baumol to explain why it pays to be cautious about rapid productivity growth/lower costs in people driven services.
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social🖊️
www.ippr.org/articles/ret...
"...even if you pay a price in terms of innovation and productivity, the ethos that most people of sound mind who want to work, can work is a policy end in and of itself"
strong agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social and the beauty of it is...we can avoid such trade-offs
www.ft.com/content/18ee...
strong agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social and the beauty of it is...we can avoid such trade-offs
www.ft.com/content/18ee...
UBI fans must remember a job is about more than the money
The value of work often gets left out of discussions about AI
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:35 AM
"...even if you pay a price in terms of innovation and productivity, the ethos that most people of sound mind who want to work, can work is a policy end in and of itself"
strong agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social and the beauty of it is...we can avoid such trade-offs
www.ft.com/content/18ee...
strong agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social and the beauty of it is...we can avoid such trade-offs
www.ft.com/content/18ee...
"Some economists love simple stories, especially when they support their ideological priors, but a bit of knowledge of history often reveals that the truth is somewhat more complicated"
@richardaljones.bsky.social on what Alex Honnold tells us about knowledge and innovation
softmachines.org?p=3249
@richardaljones.bsky.social on what Alex Honnold tells us about knowledge and innovation
softmachines.org?p=3249
Rock climbing and the economics of innovation (revisited) – Soft Machines, by Richard Jones
softmachines.org
February 1, 2026 at 10:09 AM
"Some economists love simple stories, especially when they support their ideological priors, but a bit of knowledge of history often reveals that the truth is somewhat more complicated"
@richardaljones.bsky.social on what Alex Honnold tells us about knowledge and innovation
softmachines.org?p=3249
@richardaljones.bsky.social on what Alex Honnold tells us about knowledge and innovation
softmachines.org?p=3249
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
The BBC is getting played here: if a contributor gets to flat out deny having his own words quoted to him on television (with the viewer not told the denial is untrue) then post about "dropping truth bombs". The mission to inform & counter misinformation is flailing if the editorial controls so weak
Konstantin Kisin has since posted on his own Youtube channel saying he 'dropped truth bombs on Question Time'.
Clearly 'alternative truth' bombs.
The video has had over 400k views and counting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AN1...
Clearly 'alternative truth' bombs.
The video has had over 400k views and counting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AN1...
January 31, 2026 at 11:13 AM
The BBC is getting played here: if a contributor gets to flat out deny having his own words quoted to him on television (with the viewer not told the denial is untrue) then post about "dropping truth bombs". The mission to inform & counter misinformation is flailing if the editorial controls so weak
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Brilliant letter in The Economist from Professor Ian Wray
Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
January 30, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Brilliant letter in The Economist from Professor Ian Wray
Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
📢 Starting today, we will publish a series of blogs as part of our project on Employment, Productivity and Reform in the Scottish Public Sector.
First up, this blog by @davehawkey.bsky.social looking at teacher pay per pupil in Scotland in an international context. ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/app...
First up, this blog by @davehawkey.bsky.social looking at teacher pay per pupil in Scotland in an international context. ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/app...
Apples and oranges? Scottish teachers’ pay in international context | IPPR
Ongoing pressures on the Scottish government budget are firing debate about the public sector paybill. Is the public sector in Scotland unmanageably big? A
www.ippr.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:59 AM
📢 Starting today, we will publish a series of blogs as part of our project on Employment, Productivity and Reform in the Scottish Public Sector.
First up, this blog by @davehawkey.bsky.social looking at teacher pay per pupil in Scotland in an international context. ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/app...
First up, this blog by @davehawkey.bsky.social looking at teacher pay per pupil in Scotland in an international context. ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/app...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
👶The Scottish Child Payment is cutting child poverty and bucking the UK trend. Imposing a two-child limit would put that progress at risk.
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social responds to the Scottish Conservatives' plan announced today to impose a two-child limit on the Scottish Child Payment⤵️
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social responds to the Scottish Conservatives' plan announced today to impose a two-child limit on the Scottish Child Payment⤵️
January 28, 2026 at 1:34 PM
👶The Scottish Child Payment is cutting child poverty and bucking the UK trend. Imposing a two-child limit would put that progress at risk.
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social responds to the Scottish Conservatives' plan announced today to impose a two-child limit on the Scottish Child Payment⤵️
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social responds to the Scottish Conservatives' plan announced today to impose a two-child limit on the Scottish Child Payment⤵️
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
"Stephen Boyd, the director of the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland, described the proposals as 'profoundly unserious, almost comically so'." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social contributed to this article on Reform's tax plans.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform says it would cut green policies to fund £2bn income tax cut in Scotland
Party’s pitch to voters in May Holyrood elections dismissed as ‘profoundly unserious, almost comically so’ by analysts
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:56 PM
"Stephen Boyd, the director of the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland, described the proposals as 'profoundly unserious, almost comically so'." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social contributed to this article on Reform's tax plans.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
I see Labour MPs all chuntering away on X as they discuss who might be selected as a Labour candidate - using a platform explicitly designed and run to destroy their party and any other party like it.
January 25, 2026 at 9:41 AM
I see Labour MPs all chuntering away on X as they discuss who might be selected as a Labour candidate - using a platform explicitly designed and run to destroy their party and any other party like it.
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
"1 in 5 pupils are getting a SEND diagnosis..the vast majority then trip into the benefit system because they get child disability allowance allowance.'
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
January 23, 2026 at 10:13 PM
"1 in 5 pupils are getting a SEND diagnosis..the vast majority then trip into the benefit system because they get child disability allowance allowance.'
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Very strong demand at this morning's gilt auction - bids worth 3.66 times the £4.75 billion on offer for a 4% gilt due in 2029.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
January 21, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Very strong demand at this morning's gilt auction - bids worth 3.66 times the £4.75 billion on offer for a 4% gilt due in 2029.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Scotland’s Budget raises ambition — but ducks the hard fiscal choices⚠️
👶Eradicating child poverty isn’t cheap.
🌡️Climate action needs additional spend.
🏫Public services can’t improve on real-terms cuts.
Read more in @stephenboydippr.bsky.social's blog here ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/pol...
👶Eradicating child poverty isn’t cheap.
🌡️Climate action needs additional spend.
🏫Public services can’t improve on real-terms cuts.
Read more in @stephenboydippr.bsky.social's blog here ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/pol...
Policy credibility and the Scottish Budget | IPPR
Rather than parse the fine detail of the budget (others, including our friends at FAI, are already doing this very effectively) this blog will zoom out to
www.ippr.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Scotland’s Budget raises ambition — but ducks the hard fiscal choices⚠️
👶Eradicating child poverty isn’t cheap.
🌡️Climate action needs additional spend.
🏫Public services can’t improve on real-terms cuts.
Read more in @stephenboydippr.bsky.social's blog here ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/pol...
👶Eradicating child poverty isn’t cheap.
🌡️Climate action needs additional spend.
🏫Public services can’t improve on real-terms cuts.
Read more in @stephenboydippr.bsky.social's blog here ⤵️
www.ippr.org/articles/pol...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s priorities. Our full response on the Budget here👇
www.ippr.org/media-office...
www.ippr.org/media-office...
IPPR Scotland reacts to Budget | IPPR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEA tepid Budget that didn't begin to address Scotland’s pressing challenges, says IPPR Scotland Stephen Boyd, IPPR Scotland director,
www.ippr.org
January 13, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s priorities. Our full response on the Budget here👇
www.ippr.org/media-office...
www.ippr.org/media-office...
Some early thoughts on the Scottish budget:
Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s 4 key priorities. This can’t go on. 1/
Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s 4 key priorities. This can’t go on. 1/
January 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Some early thoughts on the Scottish budget:
Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s 4 key priorities. This can’t go on. 1/
Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s 4 key priorities. This can’t go on. 1/
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Hello new Blueskyers! Have a starter pack of people who you might be interested in following on here if you’re into politics/policy/econ/terminally online content. go.bsky.app/TQwFBgH
January 11, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Hello new Blueskyers! Have a starter pack of people who you might be interested in following on here if you’re into politics/policy/econ/terminally online content. go.bsky.app/TQwFBgH
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
So here's my unsolicited, probably ill thought-out AI musing:
Generative AI was a tool invented out of unnecessity, a classic could/should Goldblum scenario. It's the Jurassic Park of computing. A solution in need of a problem.
Generative AI was a tool invented out of unnecessity, a classic could/should Goldblum scenario. It's the Jurassic Park of computing. A solution in need of a problem.
a man wearing glasses and a leather jacket is sitting at a table in a lab .
ALT: a man wearing glasses and a leather jacket is sitting at a table in a lab .
media.tenor.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:38 PM
So here's my unsolicited, probably ill thought-out AI musing:
Generative AI was a tool invented out of unnecessity, a classic could/should Goldblum scenario. It's the Jurassic Park of computing. A solution in need of a problem.
Generative AI was a tool invented out of unnecessity, a classic could/should Goldblum scenario. It's the Jurassic Park of computing. A solution in need of a problem.
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
I'd really like to see some
granularity around this claim that "AI and related digital technologies [are] the new productivity frontier" because it could, frankly, mean anything giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
granularity around this claim that "AI and related digital technologies [are] the new productivity frontier" because it could, frankly, mean anything giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
US to extend productivity lead on back of AI boom, say economists
FT survey shows America’s dominance in areas such as technology is not expected to reverse soon
giftarticle.ft.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:53 AM
I'd really like to see some
granularity around this claim that "AI and related digital technologies [are] the new productivity frontier" because it could, frankly, mean anything giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
granularity around this claim that "AI and related digital technologies [are] the new productivity frontier" because it could, frankly, mean anything giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Before Twitter was taken over by a Nazi: Twitter is not Britain, you see.
After Twitter became X, home of the Nazis: we have to stay on Twitter, because that's where Britain is.
After Twitter became X, home of the Nazis: we have to stay on Twitter, because that's where Britain is.
I love the idea that governments have to stay on Twitter because that's where "their audience" is.
Like if you only announced your cabinet reshuffles on Bluesky Harry bloody Cole wouldn't make an account to read about it.
Like if you only announced your cabinet reshuffles on Bluesky Harry bloody Cole wouldn't make an account to read about it.
January 2, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Before Twitter was taken over by a Nazi: Twitter is not Britain, you see.
After Twitter became X, home of the Nazis: we have to stay on Twitter, because that's where Britain is.
After Twitter became X, home of the Nazis: we have to stay on Twitter, because that's where Britain is.
Boxing Day stroll up The Cobbler was quite glorious
December 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Boxing Day stroll up The Cobbler was quite glorious
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
In response to the reappearance of MMT, I have, somewhat reluctantly, written up where the current crop of 'pop MMT' goes wrong.
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
What’s wrong with MMT?
As Marc Lavoie and John Quiggin have noted, there are ‘two MMTs’. Scholars such as Randy Wray, Eric Tymoigne and Scott Fulwiler have contributed to debates on monetary economics, instit…
criticalfinance.org
December 19, 2025 at 10:34 AM
In response to the reappearance of MMT, I have, somewhat reluctantly, written up where the current crop of 'pop MMT' goes wrong.
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
New substack: why so many people are content with economic stagnation: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/wallowing-...
Wallowing in poverty
Why we're not bothered about economic growth.
chrisdillow.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
New substack: why so many people are content with economic stagnation: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/wallowing-...
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
Have written a piece teeing up tomorrow's labour market stats, pointing out the sort-of obvious - that we currently have a problem with unemployment (i.e. demand) not just participation (i.e. supply). www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
Labour Market Outlook Q4 2025 • Resolution Foundation
Employment has fallen over the past two years and is substantially lower than it was before the pandemic. Perhaps surprisingly given its central place in policy debates, participation is essentially u...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
December 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Have written a piece teeing up tomorrow's labour market stats, pointing out the sort-of obvious - that we currently have a problem with unemployment (i.e. demand) not just participation (i.e. supply). www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
New labour market stats, 16-64yrs, Aug-Oct '25:
Employment: Scotland 74.9%; UK 74.9%
Unemployment: 3.9%; 5.2%
Inactivity: 22%; 21%
Change on year:
Employment: Scotland +1.6%; UK 0%
Unemployment: +0.2%; +0.8%
Inactivity: -1.9%; -0.7%
Employment: Scotland 74.9%; UK 74.9%
Unemployment: 3.9%; 5.2%
Inactivity: 22%; 21%
Change on year:
Employment: Scotland +1.6%; UK 0%
Unemployment: +0.2%; +0.8%
Inactivity: -1.9%; -0.7%
December 16, 2025 at 8:37 AM
New labour market stats, 16-64yrs, Aug-Oct '25:
Employment: Scotland 74.9%; UK 74.9%
Unemployment: 3.9%; 5.2%
Inactivity: 22%; 21%
Change on year:
Employment: Scotland +1.6%; UK 0%
Unemployment: +0.2%; +0.8%
Inactivity: -1.9%; -0.7%
Employment: Scotland 74.9%; UK 74.9%
Unemployment: 3.9%; 5.2%
Inactivity: 22%; 21%
Change on year:
Employment: Scotland +1.6%; UK 0%
Unemployment: +0.2%; +0.8%
Inactivity: -1.9%; -0.7%
Reposted by Stephen Boyd
BLOG - You can have this information but it will cost you £630. Following a previous blog highlighting how land sale prices are being concealed, Registers of Scotland, has refused an FoI request & will charge £630 for the info on the price paid for land. andywightman.scot/2025/12/you-...
You can have this Information but it will Cost You £630 - Land Matters
Regular readers will recall my blog of 21 November 2025 where I expose the growing practice of entering “Implementation of Missives” as the consideration in deeds transferring ownership of land in Sco...
andywightman.scot
December 15, 2025 at 1:39 PM
BLOG - You can have this information but it will cost you £630. Following a previous blog highlighting how land sale prices are being concealed, Registers of Scotland, has refused an FoI request & will charge £630 for the info on the price paid for land. andywightman.scot/2025/12/you-...