Promoting the study & teaching
of economics since 1897

Welcome to
the Scottish Economic Society

The objects of the Scottish Economic Society are:

  • to promote the study and teaching of economics on the widest basis, in accordance with the Scottish tradition of political economy inspired by Adam Smith
  • to provide a forum for the discussion of Scottish economic problems and their relationship to the political and social life of Scotland.

Successor from 1954 to the Scottish Society of Economists founded in 1897, the Scottish Economic Society supports an approach to economic explanation which acknowledges the human, social and historical dimensions of economic activity. This accommodates a rich variety of positions on theoretical and policy matters.

The Society is a professional body for economists, whether academic or not; it seeks to represent the collective interests of its members in all relevant contexts, and make a positive and informed contribution to economic and political debate, particularly in Scotland.

What's new?

  • STE 2022: We are delighted to launch the online resource version of the Scottish Teachers and Students of Economics Conference 2022.In this set of videos and downloadable online resources we are covering some very important topics which will not only be of interest to students of Economics and their teachers but to students of other subjects eg Modern Studies and also the wider public.
    • In the first video, Paul Johnston, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies gives us an overview of the current problems in the economy.
    • In Section 2, Alberto Paloni of the University of Glasgow talks about different theories of inflation. Economists disagree on what causes inflation and therefore they disagree on how to address it - this video talks us through some of those differences.
    • In Section 3, Felicia Odamtten of the Resolution Foundation talks about the current inflation figures and discusses some of the government policy responses – please note that this video was recorded before the resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister and some of the policies she discusses have now changed.
    • In the fourth Section, Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, talks us through the worsening crisis of poverty and inequality in Scotland, discusses the groups who are most affected and looks ahead to the future and what needs to be done to alleviate this blight on our fellow citizens.
    • In Section 5, Mairi Spowage, Professor of Economics, University of Strathclyde and Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, gives us a wide-ranging overview, in plain language, about what is happening in the Scottish and UK economy in terms of the Cost-of-Living Crisis, inflation, poverty and widening inequality.
    • Finally, in Section 6, Dr Kirsty Hughes of the Scottish Centre for European Relations puts all of this in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (Brexit).
  • Scottish Economic Society Annual Conference 2023 welcoming collaboration with the Royal Economic Society.The Scottish Economic Society is pleased to announce that we will be working together with the Royal Economic Society (SES) for the SES Annual Conference 2023. This joint RES/SES Annual Conference will be held from 3-5 April 2023 in Scotland at the University of Glasgow where we will be celebrating Adam Smith’s 300th birthday. The conference will have a terrific line-up of keynotes:
    • The SES President’s Lecture; Dani Rodrik, University of Harvard RES
    • Adam Smith Lecture; Gary Gorton, Yale University
    • Tercentenary Adam Smith Lecture; Raghuram Rajan, Chicago Booth
    • The SES Economic Policy Lecture; Silvana Tenreyro, LSE, Bank of England
    • Presidential Address; Professor Carol Propper, Imperial College, London
    • Economic Journal Lecture; Professor Valerie Ramey, University of California
    • Hahn Lecture; Professor Leah P. Boustan, Princeton University
    • Sargan Lecture; Professor Francis X. Diebold, University of Pennsylvania
  • The conference will be in-person format and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Glasgow! In order to prepare for the joint 2023 conference, here is an outline of our call for papers process. For more information about the conference check here click here. If you have any questions or feedback on the joint RES and SES Conference, please email events@res.org.uk .
    • Call for Papers opens – Late August 2022
    • Call for Papers deadline – Mid October 2022
    • Outcome emails sent – Mid December 2022
    • Bookings for conference will open in Mid December 2022

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