Join us to hear the latest results from the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET) - a quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland. Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager at the Diffley Partnership will present the latest findings which track economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
We'll be joined by João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute and Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at NatWest Group to reflect on the results.
The event is kindly hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Registration, breakfast and networking from 8.15am.
Presentation and discussion commences promptly at 8.45am. The event will finish at 9.45am.
About the speakers:
Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager, The Diffley Partnership
Scott joined the Diffley Partnership following previous roles in social research in the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Since joining the business he has managed a wide range of research projects including two of Diffley Partnership’s regular quarterly surveys in Understanding Scotland and Understanding Business
Scott has significant expertise in statistical data analysis, research design, management of research projects and communication and has worked on several high profile and high impact projects. He has a degree in Political Research from the University of Strathclyde.
João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser Allander Institute
João currently leads the institute's analysis on fiscal issues. Previously a Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Office for Budget Responsibility, he led on analysis of long-term sustainability of the UK’s public finances and on the effect of economic developments and fiscal policy on the UK’s medium-term outlook.
João also led the team responsible for forecasting public expenditure in the UK over the medium-term, with forecasts published in the OBR's Economic and Fiscal outlook as well as the team responsible for cross-cutting fiscal impacts of Brexit on the public finances.
João has a BSc in Economics from the Faculty of Economics, University of Porto; a Masters in Economic Policy from University College London and is in the final stages of his PhD in Economics specialising in Economics and Fiscal Policy from Birkbeck, University of London.
Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at NatWest Group
Sebastian joined the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2009 and has been Chief Economist for NatWest Group since 2018. His areas of interest include how society adapts to an ageing population; the economics of the climate transition; impact of technology and AI on jobs; the shift to defined contribution pension schemes and the microanalysis of customer transaction data.
His insights help the bank understand how we need to change to meet the demands of an evolving economy and customer base. His analysis covers a wide range of topics affecting personal and corporate customers from demographic change and student debt, to macroprudential and monetary policy.
Before joining RBS, Sebastian worked as an Economist for Ofcom and PwC. Sebastian holds degrees in Economics from a BSc in Economics from London School of Economics, and an MSc in Economics from The University of Edinburgh. Sebastian is Trustee Director of NatWest Group Retirement Savings Trustee Ltd.