A study of the impact of the University of Stirling on the local economy

Abstract

Extract from the introduction: The effect on the local economy of the establishment of a new University at Stirling will be equivalent to the introduction of a major new industry to the region. Given the nature of the employment offered by the new University, it is likely that there will occur a significant wave of immigration to the area. Since the growth and development of the University will have considerable repercussions on the local employment situation and on population, it is therefore necessary to provide, for practical planning purposes, a series of detailed estimates of these repercussions. With the University taking the nature of a catalyst in this situation, the main objective of the thesis is to analyse and attempt to quantify the economic effects of its development on the local economy. Equally, however, during the period of University expansion, there will be further growth from the continuing development of the local economy in its own right; the second main objective of the thesis must therefore be to study the various internal aspects of the local economy and provide from this further estimates of its growth or decline during the period. It is only by amalgamating the forecasts of both the internal and the University sources of development over the period, that final estimates can be made of the overall situation in the local economy. The provisions of these estimates should be of some interest and assistance to Local Authorities in their planning decisions for future provision of housing, schools, hospitals, roadworks etc, as well as their allocation of space for private industrial development in the area.