Scottish Economic Society

The Scottish Economic Society (SES) recently funded an “Enquiry into the State of Economics in Scotland” chaired by Eileen Mackay. One of the key findings was that in the last decade there has been a continuous and substantial decline in the number of young Scots studying economics at Scottish institutions of Further and Higher Education. This trend is in sharp contrast to the general trend of increasing participation across a wide range of subjects.  

There are a variety of reasons for why economics is not doing so well in Scotland. Part of the explanation lies with the fact that the decline in economics in higher and further education has been (not surprisingly) mirrored in secondary schools e.g. there has been a steady decline in the number of students sitting economics highers.   

In light of these worrying trends, the Scottish Economic Society has decided to organise and pay for a one-day knowledge-transfer event focussed on secondary school students and their teachers. This event will be held in the Scottish Parliament on November 12, 2007.  

At this stage the programme is still very much in draft form. However, the plan is to have sessions of interest to both students and teachers. For example, there will be an opening address on the “Future of the World Economy” by a leading economics journalist. Professor John Sloman, the UK’s leading figure in the teaching of economics, has agreed to participate. Members of the SES and the Scottish economics community will be actively involved.  

For further information, contact ses@public-economics.com.

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