SAC Rural Policy Centre

The Rural Policy Centre's latest research report explores the rural implications of changing public sector budgets in Scotland. The report includes a 'Vulnerability Index' which shows the vulnerability of urban and rural local authorities across Scotland to further economic downturn associated with public expenditure cuts.

The report highlights that both rural and urban authorities are likely to experience public sector spending cuts and job losses, but that the impacts might be felt harder in rural areas as a result of their particular characteristics, including the relatively small size of the private sector, the higher cost of basic household commodities such as food and fuel, and the higher costs of service provision - and the lack of alternatives if a service is withdrawn.

A two-page Research Briefing summarising the key findings from the report is also available below.

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