ABSTRACT
In 1954 the Scottish economy was universally viewed as an industrial economy, though over half its working population was in the service sector. The publication of The Scottish Economy in 1954 roughly coincided with key turning points in post-war Scottish history. Economic historians rightly caution against the exaggerated novelty of the processes of international economic integration commonly suggested by use of the term 'globalization'. 'Globalization' in the sense of openness to international economic forces is a particularly complex term when applied to Scotland and politically and economically integrated into that larger unit, it has been especially 'open' to policy influences from outside its own borders. The ascribing of de-industrialization largely to 'globalization' reflects a broader promiscuous use of that term, usage which often confuses discussion of economic trends as much as it enlightens. Most of the significant trends in the economy are clear, even if absolute values and precise turning points are sometimes more difficult to locate.
