i don't get this. to me, in 2022, all the countries of the UK are exactly the same. even Ireland in some aspects. same language, same history, more or less same laws. what's so special about Scotland, and what's their "different path" as compared to, let's say, Wales?
Scotland has sufficient tax base and legal structures to go it alone, whilst Wales arguably doesn't.
In your list, you exclude politics.
considering how many people from London move to Cornwall, and judging by the number of Teslas on the road, yeah, it's pretty similar.
> Scotland has sufficient tax base and legal structures to go it alone, whilst Wales arguably doesn't.
there are lots of countries that went at it alone. that doesn't mean those countries have been successful. one can even argue that an ever closer European Union made lots of small countries be more successful by giving up part of their power.
also, there's no such thing as "alone" in this day and age.
> In your list, you exclude politics.
less politics, better for everyone.
Success is a different question, but the point made that most economists accept Scotland 'could' do it. Wales not so much.
> less politics, better for everyone.
We are discussing politics right now :)
When you are very close, small differences can seem much larger and more important than they really are.