I hope you will forgive me for starting with my conclusion, that independence would be bad for the Scottish commercial property market. Indeed, what I want to do is to signal to you that I think it would be not just bad but catastrophic.
News
Scottish Independence and the Property Market
As the independence referendum approaches, the implications of independence for the property market and vice versa has not received any attention. The real estate sector is a major component of the Scottish economy, from new construction through to investment finance.
Housing policy downgrade downunder
IHURER Professor Hal Pawson, based at University of New South Wales reflects on the ‘dire state of neglected social housing’ and housing affordability problems in Australia.
Was Raquel Rolnik right to speak out?
Raquel Rolnik is Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of San Paolo. In her role as a “special rapporteur” for the UN, she has been in the UK, at the invitation of our Government, to assess whether the UK’s housing policies accord with international human rights standards.
Michael Gove and the real picture of poverty in Britain
Gill Main, Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York and member of the Poverty and Social Exclusion UK team, discusses the difference between the rhetoric and reality of poverty.
IHURER News – September 2013
First edition of the IHURER Newsletter, where we will share with you news from the Institute, recent publications and conference appearances and dates for your diary.
Demolish Morningside! Dr Peter Matthews presents Fringe Show
Dr Peter Matthews starred in a show on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – in which he spoke about policies to create mixed communities – and why these never seem to involve relocating the wealthy. In his blog, he reflects on his experience.
The story of Goldilocks and the UK housing market
In his latest blog, Professor Glen Bramley, Director of IHURER, reflects on claims that the British housing market is finally ‘hotting-up’ and whether this is a bad thing.
Homelessness, Rights and Discretion in Scotland and Ireland
It has long been recognised that due to their substantial discretion, public sector workers play an important role in making welfare policies, not just passively implementing policies designed by governments. Drawing on her recent study which compares Scotland’s rights-based and Ireland’s social partnership approach to homelessness, Beth Watts looks again at enduring debates about the best balance between rules and discretion in the design and delivery of welfare services.
IHURER blog wins Principal’s Prize
Dr. Kirsten Besemer, Research Associate at IHURER, was awarded the Principal’s Prize in the early-career researcher category, for creating and editing the IHURER blog.