Case Study
International wellbeing in the Scottish National Performance Framework
Wellbeing goals
The Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework highlights the ambition for Scotland to “make a positive contribution internationally”. To measure progress towards this goal, the following measures are part of the Scottish National Indicators:
Whether migrants coming to live in Scotland have a positive experience, as measured by migrants’ sense of belonging
Scotland’s reputation as measured by its rating on the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI). The Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index measures the appeal of a country’s ‘brand image’ by examining global perceptions of nations’ identity
Scotland’s population size
Scotland’s contribution of development support to other nations.
In 2023, Scotland’s International Development Alliance worked with Newcastle University to explore the ways in which activity in Scotland affects sustainable development beyond its borders and how these ‘spillover effects’ could best be measured [1]. The report has questioned the meaningfulness of several of the indicators that are currently included in the International dimension of the Scottish National Indicators. It is not clear, for example, what population size or the Anholt Ipsos Nation Brands Index says about Scotland’s positive contribution to wellbeing internationally.
The report has made the following recommendations to improve the measurement of impacts on wellbeing elsewhere:
Improve existing indicators, building on existing data, such as Scottish export figures, greenhouse gas emissions, its carbon footprint, and the quantity and quality of habitats for biodiversity (as a contribution to global biodiversity).
Introduce an indicator on Scotland’s material footprint, based on Scotland’s raw material consumption from anywhere in the world, which represents a significant impact on people and planet internationally.
Adopt an indicator that measures Scottish private sector impacts overseas, for example, by measuring Scottish participation in global business human rights initiatives or corporate social responsibility reporting.
Develop proxy indicators to track socio-economic impacts in Scotland’s global value chains, such as in the garment industry.
Develop indicators to track fossil fuels and provide a truer picture of the global impact Scotland is having.
Develop indicators to track the arms trade and create greater transparency around the scale of exports of arms and which countries are traded with.
Develop a longer-term multi-stakeholder approach to apply spillover methodologies to Scotland.
Measure Scotland's political voice on key global issues. A Global South Panel could assess whether Scotland’s international contribution has been positive or negative over a set time period in terms of its public stance on a range of issues related to global solidarity.
References:
[1] Davis, J. & Long, G. (2023). Measuring Scotland’s Global Impact in the National Performance Framework. Scotland’s International Development Alliance & Newcastle University, https://intdevalliance.scot/resource/measuring-scotlands-global-impact-in-the-national-performance-framework/