David Hume Institute gives evidence to Scottish Parliament committee

Susan Murray, Director of the David Hume Institute, gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance and Public Administration committee following its response to the consultation on Public Finances in 2022-23.

The Institute is calling for Scottish Government to:

• Publish draft multi-year spending plans to help longer term planning for service improvement, investment and productivity, and increase transparency over forward planning.

• Publish how it has prioritised for a fair and equal recovery, and provide underlying evidence for those priorities, recognising trade offs between shorter and longer term choices.

• Link budget priorities to the National Performance Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), using them to analyse how the pandemic has affected some groups and communities worse than others.  Continued use of the UNSDGs assists collaboration with other organisations and governments around the world.

• Focus on climate action and a fair transition to net zero, faster delivery of digital infrastructure and measures to directly influence reductions in poverty and promote greater inclusivity.

• Work to improve Scotland’s places by devolving resources and putting more power in the hands of local communities.

• Ensure support for jobs where skills can be developed rather than skills development alone.

• Commit to a full review of the Fiscal Framework which considers external changes including the loss of European Funding and new direct spending in Scotland from Westminster as well as the interactions between both devolved and reserved taxes and social securities.

Blog: Back to the Future, a DeLorean and David Hume

Blog by Susan Murray, Director, David Hume Institute

January 2020

In an Edinburgh living room, more than thirty-five years ago, some friends gathered in front of a fire. They talked late into the night about philosophy, economics and public policy.  

This happened again and again. More friends joined them each time. Agreement emerged on an idea.  There was a great need for more enlightened thinking.  Public policy needed research and analysis that was not led or framed by London-based organisations.

“Truth springs from arguments amongst friends.”  David Hume

From this dusty living room, the eminent Sir Alan Peacock, the businessman Sir Gerald Elliot and a few friends started the David Hume Institute. The name was chosen out of a deep respect for David Hume and his thinking. 

From the start, the Institute was non-partisan and independent, founded firmly in the philosophy of David Hume – examining the evidence and creating informed debate.

"A wise man proportions his beliefs to the evidence." David Hume

So, while the rest of us were watching the film Back to the Future with a time travelling DeLorean, Sir Alan Peacock and his friends were discussing a new enlightenment. 

If we had a DeLorean we could go back thirty-five years and be a fly on the wall for these initial conversations.  Professor Chris Carter of Edinburgh Business School interviewed Sir Alan about this time, and these recordings are probably as close as I will come to understanding the origins of the institute. What’s changed in those thirty-five years?  What would Sir Alan think of our library of research and analysis? 

If we were lucky enough to have a DeLorean, we could go even further back in time.  We could time travel back to David Hume himself.  What would be David Hume’s favourite paper? And what would he think about the uncertain times we live in?

Since I started with the Institute in mid November, I’ve had lots of conversations about the organisation.  There are many people with close connections and fond memories of events or a favourite piece of research.

One of my most memorable David Hume Institute events was in 2013 listening to economist Danny Gabay discuss the state of the economy, quantitative easing and the pitfalls of house price led recovery.  When I googled him to see if it might be possible to invite him back to Scotland in 2020, I discovered he passed away at the age of just 47. 

Sadly, time is often too short. However, as the turn of the year is often a time of reflection, if you are willing to share your reflections on the institute’s work, we would love to hear from you.  Please get in touch to let us know your favourite piece of research or most memorable event by emailing: director@davidhumeinstitute.com