Grant Allan

The Economic Impact of Regular Season Sporting Competitions: The Glasgow Old Firm Football Spectators as Sports Tourists

This paper considers the economic impact of the sports tourism expenditures associated with regular season sports competition. In particular the sports tourism characteristics of the supporters of the two largest football clubs in Scotland – Celtic FC and Rangers FC – are investigated. Both of these clubs are based in Glasgow, but play matches (and draw supporters from) across and outside Scotland. The paper quantifies the direct, indirect and induced effects of this expenditure using a novel extension of a two-region Input Output (IO) table for Glasgow and the rest of Scotland. The IO system is used to calculate net additional economic activity, in terms of GDP and employment, from gross and displaced activity at different regional levels.

Impact of alternative electricity generation technologies on the Scottish economy: An illustrative input—output analysis

Abstract UK energy policy is at a critical juncture, with major changes in the electricity generation mix in prospect. In Scotland, significant reductions in electricity-generating capacity are expected as coal- and nuclear-powered stations close, and renewable technologies provide a growing share of total electricity. Despite these radical changes, there has as yet been no assessment of the likely implications for the Scottish economy. This paper explores the likely systemwide impact of these changes on aggregate and sectoral outputs and employment levels using an input-output analysis that separately identifies eight generating technologies. The results suggest the need for careful disaggregation of the electricity generation sector and emphasize the economic distinctiveness of individual generation technologies.

The regional economic impacts of biofuels: A review of multisectoral modelling techniques and evaluation of applications

Allan G. J. The regional economic impacts of biofuels: a review of multisectoral modelling techniques and evaluation of applications, Regional Studies. The regional economic impact of biofuel production depends upon a number of interrelated factors: the specific biofuels feedstock and production technology employed; the sectors embeddedness in the rest of the economy, through its demand for local resources; and the extent to which new activity is created. These issues can be analysed using multisectoral economic models. Some studies use input–output (IO) and social accounting matrix (SAM) modelling frameworks, whilst a nascent computable general equilibrium (CGE) literature has begun to examine the regional impact of biofuel development. This paper reviews, compares and evaluates these approaches for modelling the regional economic impacts of biofuels.

Augmenting the Input–Output Framework for ‘Common Pool’ Resources: Operationalising the Full Leontief Environmental Model

Abstract In its initial formulation, the full Leontief (1970) environmental model augments the conventional Input–Output (IO) table by introducing pollution generation and separately identified pollution elimination sectors. Essentially it extends IO analysis to incorporate the use of a ‘common pool’ resource. Subsequent literature has either been analytical in nature or has concentrated on pollution generation but not cleaning activity. In this paper we generate an empirical full Leontief environmental IO system, based on augmenting the existing Scottish IO tables through endogenising waste generation and waste disposal activity. Due to weaknesses in data, our empirical results need to be treated with some caution. However, the construction of the extended IO system and the interpretation of the output and price multiplier results raise a number of interesting practical and conceptual issues. The analysis undertaken here can be extended to other ‘common pool’ resources such as the use of highways and irrigation systems.

Regional Employment Impacts of Marine Energy in the Scottish Economy: A General Equilibrium Approach

Gilmartin M. and Allan G. Regional employment impacts of marine energy in the Scottish economy: a general equilibrium approach, Regional Studies. One aspect of the case for policy support for renewable energy developments is the wider economic benefits that are expected to be generated. Within Scotland, as with other regions of the UK, there is a focus on encouraging domestically based renewable technologies. This paper uses a regional computable general equilibrium framework to model the impact on the Scottish economy of expenditures relating to marine energy installations. The results illustrate the potential for (considerable) ‘legacy’ effects after expenditures cease. In identifying the specific sectoral expenditures with the largest impact on (lifetime) regional employment, this approach offers important policy guidance.

Muscle drain versus brain gain in association football: technology transfer through player emigration and manager immigration

To test theories of migration and economic development, this article examines whether international football teams benefit from having players playing abroad in stronger leagues and from employing managers from countries with stronger leagues. The results provide evidence in support of the former effect. However, there is a negative impact from employing managers from countries with superior leagues.

Modelling the Economy-wide Rebound Effect

In this chapter we address the question: how large are the system-wide rebound effects likely to be for general improvements in energy efficiency in production activities in a developed economy? Most studies focus on the direct rebound effects, often in the context of the demand for consumer services (Greening et al., 2000; Sorrell, 2007). This restricts the analysis solely to the energy required to provide the consumer services to which the efficiency improvement directly applies. There is, to date, comparatively little evidence on the scale of non-direct or system-wide effects that reflect the relative price, output and income changes induced by improvements in energy efficiency (Greening et al., 2000).

Greening regional development: employment in low-carbon and renewable energy activities

ABSTRACT Greening regional development: employment in low-carbon and renewable energy activities. Regional Studies. The promotion of low-carbon and renewable energy (LC + RE) activities has become an important element of development policy in many regional economies. In practice, defining and measuring these activities presents conceptual, methodological and operational challenges. This paper illustrates these difficulties using three recent estimates of LC + RE jobs for Scotland. It proposes that information on the LC + RE sector should be embedded in a set of input–output accounts. This would facilitate the planning, implementation and monitoring of LC + RE-based regional development policy.

Computable General Equilibrium Modelling in Regional Science

Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling has a long and distinguished history in regional science. In the past decade or so, improvements in computation have led to more elaborate and detailed CGE models being developed and used in a range of different policy areas. Against a backdrop of these advances, this chapter seeks to identify and review a number of areas where we see the potential for significant developments in CGE modelling in the years ahead. Specifically, we first consider potential improvements in computation, model specification and methodology, before looking in more detail at three areas where these models are used, or could be used, with a view to identifying avenues where model improvements would be valuable. These three areas are: urban and spatial modelling, model integration with other systems and models, and regional fiscal issues. CGE modelling has a bright future in regional science, but to remain at the forefront of economic research in regional science it must continue to adapt and evolve as, historically it has done, and we hope that the directions identified in this chapter are helpful to the future direction of this field.