Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1
But that's not to say that Scotland can't be a successful, independent country. There's plenty of small countries in Europe that are successful and some like Slovenia and Slovakia which have split away from other ones and had to build their own institutions and currencies.
Scotland has a larger population than the Republic of Ireland which has been successful but it is spread over a far larger area which increases costs in traditional economic models but in a Covid world, might work to its advantage.
|
Slovenia was never that poor relatively in the first place.
Link
Quote:
|
Although it comprised only about one-eleventh of Yugoslavia's total population, it was the most productive of the Yugoslav republics, accounting for one-fifth of its GDP and one-third of its exports.[28] Slovenia thus gained independence in 1991 with an already relatively prosperous economy and strong market ties to the West.
|
Slovakia
Quote:
Two governments of the "liberal-conservative" Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda (1998–2006) pursued policies of macroeconomic stabilization and market-oriented structural reforms. Nearly the entire economy has now been privatized, and foreign investment has picked up. Economic growth exceeded expectations in the early 2000s, despite recession in key export markets.
...
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovakia has increased dramatically. Cheap and skilled labor, a 19% flat tax rate for both businesses and individuals, no dividend taxes, a weak labor code, and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors.
|
Somehow I don't think the SNP or Labour would go with those polices.
The other thing that is highlighted is a favourable geographical location. Scotland is isolated in that sense. There is no near connection with mainland Europe, other than via England.