Economic Development in Scotland

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2004 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Economic Geography, grade: 1,3, RWTH Aachen University (Philosophische Fakultät, Geographie), language: English, abstract: Inhaltsangabe:Introduction:§This thesis tries to examine the structures, activities, changes and spatial impacts of economic development in Scotland. Looking at the Scottish economy it has to be considered that Scotland is both an integrated part of the UK and the UK economy and a peripheral region within the UK.§Therefore Scotland does not have an economy of its own, but the distinctiveness of the region in terms of location, history and recent political devel-opments justifies a closer examination of the matter. Scotland is in many aspects a very heterogeneous region. This is in particular true for the economic structure and a focus on one region cannot be representative. Edinburgh is an exceptionally prosperous region, not only in Scottish terms.§However this prosperity and activity in economic development makes Edinburgh an interesting subject for examination. Thus the focus of this thesis lies on the developments in Edinburgh. Economic development is certainly influenced by a vast number of factors and it is impossible to take all of them into account. Within this thesis the emphasis lies on governmental influence on the developments. However European development measures are not considered. Accordingly the thesis aims to look at the ways the promotion of economic development is carried out in Scotland and tries to assess the measures on the background of the distinctiveness of Scotland and Edinburgh.§Thus in the first chapter the thesis takes a look at Scotland as a whole, examining the physical environment, the administrative framework and its re-cent changes. Furthermore it looks at the economic legacy of the heavy industries and the recent developments in the Scottish economy. Subsequently the history and institutions of the promotion of economic development in Britain and Scotland are presented. The last part of the first chapter deals with the planning framework in Scotland. The second chapter portraits Edinburgh's economic structure. The key industries are presented briefly as are the institutions of economic development.§Afterwards parts of the Edinburgh development plan are examined. The third chapter focuses on the Waterfront project in Edinburgh. The background of waterfront revitalisation is presented. The project and its participants are then examined in some detail. Finally a conclusion is drawn on the developments in Edinburgh.§Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents:§Abbreviations§List of Figures§List of Tables§Introduction1§1.SCOTLAND3§1.1PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT3§1.2POPULATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE7§1.3THE SCOTTISH ECONOMY10§1.3.1Early industries10§1.3.2Silicon Glen12§1.3.3North Sea Oil13§1.4ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT15§1.4.1History of economic policy17§1.4.1.1Regional Selective Assistance19§1.4.1.2Development Agencies the Scottish Development Agency and the Scottish Enterprise Networks20§1.4.1.3Institutional Problems the Quango dispute22§1.4.1.4The Scottish development agencies today24§1.5SCOTTISH PLANNING SYSTEM26§1.5.1Structure Plans28§1.5.2Local Plans30§1.5.3Conclusion31§2.EDINBURGH AND LOTHIAN33§2.1THE LOTHIANS33§2.2EDINBURGH37§2.2.1Introduction37§2.2.2Population40§2.2.3Sectoral structure and changes44§2.2.3.1Finance46§2.2.3.2Retail48§2.2.3.3Tourism49§2.2.3.4Creative Industries50§2.2.3.5Further and Higher Education51§2.2.3.6Biotechnology52§2.2.4Perroux and Peripherality54§2.2.5Development constraints56§2.2.6LEC Edinburgh and Lothian59§2.2.7The City of Edinburgh Council61§2.2.8The Plans64§2.2.8.1Edinburgh and Lothians St...