Prominent economist Graeme Blackett has been appointed the new chair of Prosper, the Scottish membership organisation and think-tank. The appointment was announced in a press-release on the Prosper website. He takes over from Joanna Boag-Thomson.

Blackett, a leading economist from Scotland, in a statement coinciding with his appointment, has stressed the need for unity among politicians, business leaders, and civic society to support the tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals experiencing financial distress in the country.

Blackett, founder of the Edinburgh-based consultancy BiGGAR Economics, noted that “There has been low productivity and limited growth in the UK and Scottish economies for two decades”. He pointed out that many individuals are struggling to meet their basic needs. However, he expressed optimism regarding potential opportunities in energy transition and emerging technologies like AI, urging collective action to navigate these challenges and capitalize on them. “Complexity requires collaboration. We need everyone to work together to identify what needs to be done, and then to do it,” he said.

Blackett’s comments were made in the context of latest figures showing that a staggering 80% of businesses anticipating weak or very weak growth in the Scottish economy over the next year, according to the latest Scottish Business Monitor by Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute. 

Blackett’s appointment at Prosper takes on a particular relevance in 2026, which will see the Scottish Parliament elections taking place in May. On this topic, Blackett added that:

“Politicians often talk about economic policy in terms of pulling levers. However, the economy has no control room and it is not a machine. Nevertheless, everything that politicians do matters to the economy — all policy has consequences, sometimes intended and sometimes unintended.”

Founded in 1931 during a time of great economic uncertainty, Prosper is a membership organisation that aims to bring together diverse sectors to devise strategies for economic growth in Scotland. 

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