Transitioning to a new Scottish state: immediate set-up costs, how the handover will work, and the long-run viability of Scottish government
Journal: London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Year: 2014

The co-Director of Democratic Audit, Professor Patrick Dunleavy was asked by the leading Scottish newspaper, the Sunday Post, to write a report on the costs of transitioning to a new government in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote in Scotland’s independence referendum. The report argues that an independent Scotland would face immediate set-up costs of up to £200 million in creating new administrative structures that duplicate UK institutions, but could also streamline many public bodies. During the tran