Whose Economy? Seminar Series
The Whose Economy? seminars, organised by Oxfam Scotland and the University of the West of Scotland, brought together experts to look at recent changes in the Scottish economy and their impact on Scotland’s most vulnerable communities.
Held over winter and spring 2010-11 in Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and Stirling, the series posed the question of what economy is being created in Scotland and, specifically, for whom?
Persistent poverty exists in Scotland alongside high economic prosperity, leading to gross disparities in income and wealth, and life chances and lifestyles. Poverty and inequalities have historical and structural roots: changes in the Scottish economy in recent decades have seen a shift from manufacturing to a service-led, supposedly ‘knowledge economy’. Glasgow, for example, was once the second city of the British Empire – it is now Britain’s second biggest shopping destination.
The economy that is being pursued is not only one-dimensional (in its apparent obsession with retailed growth), but ultimately premised on an inherent contradiction. Trust, relationships and reciprocity are undermined by hyper-consumerism, status-driven consumption and individual instant gratification through material acquisition, themselves driven by inequalities. Individuals are implicitly expected to function as just-in-time inventory – on demand when the needs of businesses require, but disposable when deemed superfluous to production or service demands.
Seminars and resources:
Introduction
Whose Economy? An Introduction, Mike Danson and Katherine Trebeck
Thursday 11th Nov, Edinburgh Royal Society
Themes: Poverty Proofing, The Taxation & the Benefits System, Whose Welfare State?, The Nature of the Scottish Economy
Speakers: Esther Roberton, Oxfam Scotland Advisory Group (Chair); Richard Murphy, Tax Justice Network; John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group; Stephen Boyd, STUC; Dr John McKendrick, Glasgow Caledonian University; Emeritus Professor Adrian Sinfield, University of Edinburgh; Dr Vinnie Pattison, Ingeus
Presentations:
‘Whose Welfare State Now?’, Adrian Sinfield
‘A taxation and benefits system to end child poverty’, John Dickie
‘The Nature of the Scottish Economy’, Stephen Boyd
Seminar papers:
Whose Welfare State Now, Adrian Sinfield
The Scottish Economy, Stephen Boyd
Desperately Seeking Poverty Alleviation, John M McKendrick
Videos:
Dr John McKendrick, Glasgow Caledonian University
John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
Richard Murphy, Tax Justice Network
Prof Adrian Sinfield, Edinburgh University
Stephen Boyd, Scottish Trade Unions Congress
Thursday 17th Feb, Glasgow, STUC
Themes: Equality of Earnings, Minimum Income & Public Services, Quality of Work, The Role of Business in Poverty Reduction
Speakers: Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland (Chair); David Coyne, Glasgow Works; Eddie Follan, Poverty Alliance; Jennifer McCarey, Unison; Janette Harkess, SCDI; Dave Moxham, STUC; Professor Ailsa McKay, Glasgow Caledonian University; Professor Chris Warhurst, University of Sydney; Jane Wood, Scottish Business in the Community
Presentations:
‘The Role of Business in Reducing Inequality’, Jane Wood
‘Business, the Labour Market and Poverty’, David Coyne
‘Crisis, Cuts and Citizenship’, Professor Ailsa McKay
‘Good jobs and bad jobs: two tiered but not detached’, Chris Warhurst
‘Why we need a Living Wage’, Jennifer McCarey & Eddie Follan
Seminar papers:
Rethinking Good and Bad Jobs in Glasgow, Chris Warhurst
Videos:
Kate Wareing, Oxfam
Jane Wood, Scottish Business in the Community
David Coyne, Glasgow Works
Prof Chris Warhurst, University of Sydney
Janette Harkess, Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Jen McCarey, Unison
Eddie Follan, Poverty Alliance
Prof Ailsa McKay, Glasgow Caledonian University
Thursday 10th March, Volunteer Development Scotland, Stirling
Themes: Addressing stigma, solidarity vs the social logic of consumerism, the experience of poverty in an unequal society, volunteering and social assets
Speakers: Lynsey Hanley, Author/Columnist (Chair); Dr David Walsh, Glasgow Centre for Population Health; Dr Gerry McCartney, Dr Sandra Carlisle, University of Glasgow; Dr Kathy Hamilton, University of Strathclyde; Dr John Lee, Volunteer Development Scotland; Professor Gerry Mooney, Open University; Dr Kirsteen Paton, University of Glasgow; Sarah Welford, Poverty Alliance
Presentations:
‘Health inequalities in Scotland: looking beyond the blame game’, Gerry McCartney & Chik Collins
‘Well-being in consumer culture and the ‘new poor’’, Sandra Carlisle & Phil Hanlon
‘Keeping Up Appearances: Consumption and Masking Poverty’, Dr Kathy Hamilton
‘Whose Economy: Whose Welfare?’, Dr John Lee
‘The ‘Broken’ Society: Stigmatising Poverty and Disadvantage?’, Gerry Mooney
‘Housing, Class and Regeneration; exploring the ‘new’ inequalities’, Dr Kirsteen Paton
‘The Experience of Poverty in an Unequal Society: Why Tackling Stigma should be a priority in anti-poverty policy’, Sarah Welford
Seminar papers:
Health Inequalities in Scotland, Looking Beyond the Blame Game, Gerry McCartney and Chik Collins
Wellbeing, Consumer Culture and the ‘New Poor’, Sandra Carlisle and Phil Hanlon
Keeping Up Appearances, Consumption and Masking Poverty, Kathy Hamilton
Stigmatising Poverty, The ‘Broken Society’ and Reflections on Anti-Welfarism in the UK Today, Gerry Mooney
Housing, Class and Regeneration, Exploring the ‘New’ Inequalities, Kirsteen Paton
The Experience of Poverty in an Unequal Society, Sarah Welford
To What Extent does Poverty Explain Scotland’s Poor Health Profile, David Walsh
Videos:
David Walsh, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Dr Gerry McCartney, NHS Health Scotland
Dr Sandra Carlisle, University of Glasgow
Dr Kathy Hamilton, University of Strathclyde
John Lee, Development Scotland
Dr Gerry Mooney, Open University
Dr Kirsteen Patton, University of Glasgow
Sarah Welford, Poverty Alliance
Friday 25thMarch, Inverness College, Inverness
Themes: Community Ownership, Environmental Injustice, Peak Oil, Renewable Energy
Speakers: Professor Mike Danson, UWS (Chair); Professor Phil Hanlon, Glasgow Centre for Population Health; John Watt, HIE; Nicholas Gubbins, Community Energy; Annette Hastings, University of Glasgow; Frazer Scott, Forward Scotland; Tim Braunholtz-Speight, UHI
Presentations:
‘Promoting renewable energy in community buy-out areas in the Highlands & Islands’, Mike Danson
‘Post-legislative Scrutiny of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003’, Calum Macleod, Tim Braunholtz-Speight, Issie Macphail, Derek Flyn, Sarah Allen & Davie Macleod
‘Renewable Energy – Who Benefits?’, Nicholas Gubbins
‘Lessons from the Outback? How Community Complexity Shaped Indigenous Australians’ Relationships with Miners’, Katherine Trebeck
Seminar papers:
Community Ownership Through Land Reform, Tim Braunholtz-Speight
Can Public Services ‘Protect the Vulnerable’ in the Age of Austerity, Annette Hastings
Videos:
Prof Mike Danson, University of the West of Scotland
Tim Braunholtz-Speight, University of the Highlands and Islands
Prof Phil Hanlon, University of Glasgow
John Watt, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Prof Chris Warhurst, University of Sydney
Dr Katherine Trebeck, Oxfam
Nicholas Gubbins, Community Energy Scotland
Conclusion
Conclusion: Our Economy, Mike Danson and Katherine Trebeck
You can also find all of the papers in the series in Oxfam’s Policy & Practice website.
