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Homecoming 2009
05/03/2009
Top economists from around the world will be invited to join Scotland's Council of Economic Advisers for a Homecoming economic event later this year, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today as he delivered the Stevenson/Adam Smith lecture at Glasgow University.
Scotland's Homecoming Year, inspired by the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns, is an opportunity to celebrate Scotland's great contributions to the world - including great minds such as economist and philosopher Adam Smith. The continuing relevance of his work is expected to be the focus of the economic event.
The First Minister used his lecture to emphasise the relevance of Adam Smith to the current constitutional debate in Scotland - who argued we should put the welfare of the citizen at the heart of decisions regarding national government.
Through the National Conversation the Scottish Government is seeking to advance a broad democratic debate on the future governance of Scotland - to decide what responsibilities Scotland needs to improve the lives and opportunities of our citizens.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"Economists around the world can not fail to have been touched by the influence of Adam Smith; the father of economics and a towering figure in the European Enlightenment.
"This year we celebrate not only the 250th anniversary of the publication of his first great work, the Theory of Moral Sentiments, but also the 250th anniversary of our national Bard, Robert Burns. That is what makes this the perfect year in which to celebrate Scotland's contributions to the world and to invite all those touched by them to join us and explore the roots of those achievements.
"That is why I'm delighted to announce that the Scottish Government plans to invite renowned economists from Scotland and around the world to come together for an event inspired by the legacy of Adam Smith. At a time of world-wide economic uncertainty there are undoubtedly lessons to be learned by reflecting on the relevance of one of Scotland's intellectual pioneers.
"The extraordinary and profound insight of Adam Smith certainly has continuing relevance for the decisions facing Scotland today. As the Scottish Government builds the social and economic case for independence, Adam Smith reminds us that 'all constitutions are valued only in proportion as they tend to promote the happiness of those who live under them'.
"This is the principle that drives our argument for change and believe that it is right that the people of Scotland choose their own future."
From the autumn of 2006, the Stevenson Fund for Citizenship has promoted, in conjunction with the Adam Smith Research Foundation, a series of annual lectures on citizenship themes, held at the University of Glasgow and open to academics, students and the general public. This year the First Minister's lecture took as its theme the principle:
"All constitutions of government, however, are valued only in proportion as they tend to promote the happiness of those who live under them"
The CEA is chaired by Sir George Mathewson and was established to:
- Advise the First Minister directly about the best way to improve Scotland's sustainable economic growth
- Have quarterly meetings to consider the publication of the quarterly growth figures
- Publish an annual report providing expert commentary on the Scottish economy