There's a connection between the value of what gets produced in an area, and the amount that is returned to an area in terms of local income and expenditure. At its most crude, this is the difference between workplace-based production, as measured by Gross Value Added (GVA); and residence-based expenditure as shown by Gross Domestic Household Income (GDHI). The data is only available at the level of large local authorities and above.
The most recently available comparative data for Glasgow is for 2009, and shows that
- GVA was £17,343 million, equal to 16.9% of the Scottish total;
- GDHI was £7,769 million, or 10.1% of the Scottish total.
On the face of it, this suggests quite an imbalance. A large part of the explanation lies with commuting patterns, as GVA represents the output of people working in Glasgow regardless of where they live, combining residents working in Glasgow with the contribution of in-commuters. GDHI, on the other hand, shows the amount of money available for residents to spend regardless of where they work, and groups together residents working in Glasgow with people that out-commute. As on a daily basis around 191,000 in-commute, offset by around 40,000 out-commute, you can see why GVA is higher than GDHI.
But this only explains part of the story. As shown above, Glasgow receives 10.1% of the Scottish total of available income. But Glasgow makes up
It could be that the large number of people on benefits explains why aggregate income in Glasgow appears low. GDHI is made up of two components: primary income which is received from employment net of taxation, pension contributions and housing costs; and secondary income that are received through redistribution via pensions and benefits. So if we think that the large number of benefit claimants explains Glasgow's relatively low share of Scotland's GDHI, we would expect secondary income to be relatively high. In fact the data shows the opposite
But this only explains part of the story. As shown above, Glasgow receives 10.1% of the Scottish total of available income. But Glasgow makes up
- 11.4% of Scotland's population;
- 12.4% of Scotland's working-age population.
It could be that the large number of people on benefits explains why aggregate income in Glasgow appears low. GDHI is made up of two components: primary income which is received from employment net of taxation, pension contributions and housing costs; and secondary income that are received through redistribution via pensions and benefits. So if we think that the large number of benefit claimants explains Glasgow's relatively low share of Scotland's GDHI, we would expect secondary income to be relatively high. In fact the data shows the opposite
- Since 2000 the balance of secondary income in Glasgow has been negative ie in aggregate terms more is contributed in terms of taxation than is received by way of income;
- Even when Glasgow received a positive net secondary income, as in 1997, the amount received was only 5.2% the total positive primary income level.
Part of this can be explained by the relatively low proportion of people in Glasgow that are of pensionable age, relative to the rest of Scotland and the UK. Even so, the small size of the overall share of secondary income to total GDHI suggests this explanation of Glasgow's smaller than expected share of Scotland's GDHI does not hold.
Income levels are another plausible explanation: if residence-based income levels are lower than workplace-based income, this would help explain the discrepancy. The latest data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2011) shows that
Income levels are another plausible explanation: if residence-based income levels are lower than workplace-based income, this would help explain the discrepancy. The latest data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2011) shows that
- the median gross annual full-time income for residents was £24,465;
- for workplaces, the equivalent income was £25,428.
Resident-based income was therefore 3.8% lower than workplace-based income. Workplace-based income in Glasgow was only slightly lower than the Scottish median of £25,538. Median income levels only explain part of the shortfall between Glasgow's GDHI and the level to which it might be expected in terms of population levels.
If Glasgow is getting a lower than expected GDHI, which areas are getting higher than expected returns? Existing redistribution via the Scottish Government's Grant Aided Expenditure procedures already favour rural areas.
If Glasgow is getting a lower than expected GDHI, which areas are getting higher than expected returns? Existing redistribution via the Scottish Government's Grant Aided Expenditure procedures already favour rural areas.
- East & West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond has an overall GDHI of £3.4bn and a GVA of £2.8bn, and this higher than expected income can be attributed to commuting patterns and a relatively weak local economy;
- Caithness & Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty has a GDHI of £1.4bn and a GVA of £1.3bn;
- Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute have a £120m net gain on the balance of secondary income which adds 9.4% to their local economy.










