If anyone elsewhere in Scotland doubts a thriving Edinburgh is good for the rest of the country then a study presented to city councillors this week should put them straight.

An investigation by the London-based economics consultancy Metro Dynamics estimated that if the Edinburgh city region – the Lothians, plus the Borders and Fife – grew at the same rate as the rest of the country then by 2040 the Scottish economy would be £12.3 billion smaller than if the area was able to grow at the same rate as it has done since 2013, the Covid years excepting.

The paper makes the case for a stronger regional partnership between the six local authorities, building on the work done under the Edinburgh City Region Deal since its inception eight years ago, but since it was commissioned the work has been overtaken by the Scottish Government’s hazy plan for local government reform, which has thrown the whole council system up in the air.

By contrast, Metro Dynamics has outlined a programme for continued growth driven by regional coordination, but without the need to spend millions on setting up new authorities, and losing time while other regions in the UK and beyond get on with the job of competing.

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Now, £12.3 billion a year is a lot to put at risk, but that’s a likely effect if the vague plan to create up to 160 community authorities from the break-up of the existing councils, and to plonk between six and ten........

© Herald Scotland