Catch up with the November 2022 findings of our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland: Economy, which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.

The David Hume Institute was joined by Professor Wayne Powell, CEO and Principal of SRUC, and Fran van Dijk, CEO of One Stone Advisors, Chair of Macaulay Development Trust and Deputy Chair of SEPA to explore what needs done to achieve rapid growth in the Scotland’s natural economy.

Catch up with the August 2022 findings of our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland Economy which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.

DHI was delighted to welcome Professor Jason Leitch to talk about his experience of leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic in conversation with business leader Jacqui Low.

This online event heard insights from Understanding Scotland’s quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations.

DHI was joined by researcher and pollster Mark Diffley, Director of the Diffley Partnership, and Rachel Statham, Associate Director at IPPR.

New figures show Scotland’s population increasing slightly over the next few years before starting to fall - the first predicted population drop for a number of years.

At this live event Dr Esther Roughsedge, Head of Population and Migration Statistics at National Records of Scotland, and Professor Mike Anderson of the University of Edinburgh discussed the implications of the research for Scotland’s future populations.

What if we could combat loneliness and isolation at the same time as combatting some of the consequences of systemic poverty?

Jacqueline Cassidy discusses her Churchill Fellowship research into different approaches to child and elder care in Japan, Singapore and the USA.

Jacqueline was joined in discussion by Karen Hedge, National Director from Scottish Care and Jane Brumpton, Chief Executive from Early Years Scotland.

Writer and campaigner Melissa Benn in conversation with Aveek Aveek Bhattacharya about his new research comparing the different approaches to secondary school choice in England and Scotland.

In many democracies the political chasm between different groups of people seems larger than ever. Are we especially polarised now or have we always been divided?

CEO of the Depolarization Project Ali Goldsworthy discusses her new book, Poles Apart with Professor Rowan Cruft from University of Stirling, whose research team has recently released this report on Shaping Democracy in the Digital Age.

The pandemic has changed so many lives, both temporarily and permanently. Where do we go from here?

Join the David Hume Institute in conversation with Dr Aveek Bhattacharya Chief Economist with the Social Market Foundation, Professor Rowan Crufts from University of Stirling and Dr Diana Popescu from University of Edinburgh

Are Scotland’s business and investment leaders missing magic that could help improve productivity and innovation? Do Scottish Businesses risk group-think due to lack of diversity of thought?

Watch DHI’s latest online event in partnership with the Institute of Directors Scotland (IOD) and Black Professionals Scotland.

Professor Duncan Maclennan returns to the David Hume Institute in conversation with Daniel Herring from Legatum Institute to discuss why data from the UK Prosperity Index might help shine a light on similarities and differences within and between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Professor Duncan MacLennan and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, John Swinney MSP, discuss building forward better post pandemic

Join John Taylor, past President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and Jan Oliver, Partner at Baillie Gifford to discuss fascinating new IFoA research.

Scotland 2070 sets out a new ambitious vision for Scotland. Join the David Hume Institute in conversation with authors Dorothy Gooden, Ian Gooden and Hillary Sillitto, with MSYP Emily Nix.

Dr Arun Advani and Mairi Spowage discuss his latest research examining the study of race and ethnicity-related issues in economics.

Linda discussed her latest book The Double X Economy: The Epic Potential of Women’s Empowerment and its implications for productivity in Scotland with Senior Research Fellow Rachel Statham.

Professor Ben Friedman discusses his new book entitled Religion and the Rise of Capitalism with political economist Dr. Katherine Trebeck.

A conversation with Professor Michael Anderson and Dr Esther Roughsedge as part of the Firestarter festival. How much can we really foretell what is likely to happen to the population of Scotland in the future?

Can the insights and solutions to some of the issues in the Global South help Scotland to recover and rebuild differently in a post-pandemic era? Join Kate Thomson-McDermott in conversation with Aloysius Fernandez as part of the #GlobalSouthSeries.

The David Hume Institute bring you Professor Chris Carr and Professor Jeffrey Fear in conversation to discuss the impact of global oligopolies on business in Scotland.

The David Hume Institute in conversation with Suwen Chen, Daisy Ford-Downes and Jackie Waring discussed the phenomenal rise of female investors.

Can the insights and solutions to some of the issues in the Global South help Scotland to recover and rebuild differently in a post-pandemic era? Join Emma Ackerman in conversation with Jyoti Mhapsekar as part of the #GlobalSouthSeries.

Can the insights and solutions to some of the issues in the Global South help the UK to recover and rebuild differently in a post-pandemic era?

WEvolution’s Global South Speaker Series is an opportunity to listen to and interact with inspirational and system-altering programmes and movements from founders in the Global South.

Part 2 / 4 in conversation with Salomón Raydan.

Steven Drost (CodeBase) and Chris Yiu (Institute for Global Change) talk tech with the David Hume Institute in this virtual fireside conversation, part of the DHI Bites series.

The first speaker in the Global South Series was Catherine Wanjohi, the Founder and Executive Director of Life Bloom Services International Kenya. Recording now available.

The authors of recently published research discussed their findings with Charlotte Barbour, Director of Tax for ICAS and Susan Murray, Director of the David Hume Institute to reflect on the implications for Scotland .

Former Minister of Education for Finland, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, shared his insights into the Finnish approach to learning systems and lifelong learning for a skilled labour market.

Jonathan Taylor joined Fran van Dijk to discuss his experience of leading a mission-led bank as Vice President of Environment and Climate Change at the European Investment bank.

In partnership with National Records of Scotland, regional variations and trends that exist within Scotland’s populations were discussed along with what they mean for Scotland and Scottish policy.

Professors Michael Anderson and Graeme Roy discussed “Scotland’s Populations”, how our demographics have shaped our country, and the challenges they present in the future.

Professor Jonathan Portes is a Senior Fellow of the Economic and Social Research Council's "UK in a Changing Europe" initiative spoke at the David Hume Institute about immigration policy and challenges for the UK and Scotland.

Philip Rycroft, recently retired Permanent Secretary of DExEU, the Department for Exiting the European Union, gave a lecture on “Brexit and the Union: what next for Scotland in the UK?”.

Bringing together some of the best recent writing from Scotland and beyond, this reading list is intended as a fresh way to stimulate debate about the state of the nation and the world.

Darren grew up in Pollok, where he experienced the effects of extreme poverty and addiction, and was part of the Poverty Truth Commission hosted in Glasgow in 2009. He gave the 2019 Annual Lecture.

Dame Susan Rice, Robert Chote and Alyson Stafford spoke about how the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Office of Budget Responsibility work both individually and together and the setting in which these institutions exist and operate.

Dr Rolf Alter, an experienced economist, discussed public sector productivity, its macroeconomic significance, (failed) approaches to measuring it and its public policy and governance implications.

Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh gave the 2018 David Hume Lecture.

The David Hume Institute’s report on Scottish productivity was joint-funded by the Scottish Policy Foundation and Baillie Gifford, with modelling undertaken by the Fraser of Allander Institute.

Jesse Norman MP discussed the Scottish Enlightenment and Adam Smith to understand and address the problems of today.

Bringing together some of the best recent writing from Scotland and beyond, this list is intended as a fresh way to stimulate debate about the state of the nation and the world.

Lord Kerr discusses Brexit.

Lord Willetts on how we have ended up with the higher education system that we have, and the challenges facing universities today as globalisation and technological innovation continue to gain pace.

Willie Rennie MSP speaks on the theme of ‘Scotland After Brexit’.

Richard Leonard MSP speaks on the theme of ‘Scotland After Brexit’.

Ruth Davidson speaks on the theme of ‘Scotland After Brexit’.

Nicola Sturgeon speaks on the theme of ‘Scotland After Brexit’.

Professors Richard Wyn Jones and Michael Keating considered the major challenges Brexit poses to the 1999 devolution settlements; the role of the devolved governments in negotiations; the allocation of competences shared with Europe, and related issues.

Baron Macpherson of Earl's Court discussed economic policymaking in a UK outside the EU.

Poul Skytte Christoffersen, former Danish Permanent Representative to the European Union, spoke about Denmark and The Maastricht treaty, and what we might still learn from it.

Christina Romer, Professor of Economics and former Chair of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, spoke about the aftermath of financial crises.

Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive of the European Policy Centre in Brussels, spoke about Brexit and the view from Brussels.

Britain’s foremost expert on opinion polls and voting patterns shared his fascinating analysis of the 2017 General Election.

Professor Graeme Roy spoke about the biggest reform to the financial powers of the Scottish Parliament since 1999 including changes that will not only be fundamental for how public services are funded in Scotland but also for our future economic prospects.

Professor Emer Smyth discussed the widespread and persistent issue of the underperformance of boys in education, from pre-school to first degree.

Professor Craig Parsons spoke about the single markets in the EU and US and how they are shaping our politics.

Nicola Sturgeon discussed some of the key issues facing Scotland for the future.