Economic development in a unitary local government system

An earlier article in the Quarterly Economic Commentary (Hayton, 1992) considered the likely impact of reform upon local economic development. This was written at a time when the details of the economic development power were not known. The publication of the Reform Bill (Local Government etc (Scotland) Bill) in late 1993 means that the present article is able to look in greater detail at the power and compare it with the English and Welsh legislation. This enables its likely impact to be considered. The starting point is to look at the background to the legislation.