WHENEVER we ask people what they want to see more of in The National, our subscribers say they want more in-depth analysis and explainers on economic issues.
Yes supporters across Scotland want to feel prepared to take on the big economic arguments surrounding independence – how do you set up a new currency, what are deficits, what leaving the Union would mean for the money in their pocket, etc. They want to be able to confidently respond to the apocolyptic claims from the Unionist side.
But activists don’t just want to be able to repeat soundbites they’ve heard from politicians. They want to understand these concepts, which can be alien to many of us -and kept deliberately so by those at the very top of society.
So we’re stepping in to help respond to this demand, by teaming up with the economics podcasters Scotonomics for a special weekly newsletter.
Fresh from hosting Scotland’s first festival of economics in Dundee, Kairin van Sweeden and William Thomson (below) will answer your burning questions about economics – particularly, the economics of an independent Scotland.
You can sign up for free – no need to be a subscriber – here, to get it straight to your inbox every Tuesday at 6pm.
Commenting on the new collaboration, Thomson said: "We need to answer different questions to the ones posed half a century ago.
“How do we end the rampant inequality that is breaking our social fabric? How do we achieve full employment? How do we end poverty? How do we deal with the unfolding climate and biodiversity crisis?
“Understanding the economics of the real world provides insight that opens up a list of new policy options."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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