Professor Jeremy Peat FRSE
Professor Jeremy Alastair Peat OBE FRSE (20 March 1945 – 12 April 2026)
Jeremy Peat was one of the most influential Scottish economists of his generation: informing understanding of the Scottish economy and contributing significantly to Scottish public life.
Born in Kettering in Northamptonshire in March 1945 and educated at Cranbrook in Kent he studied economics at Bristol University and University College London. His career as an economist began in 1969 when he joined the government economic service. His career in the service included a brief spell at HM Treasury in London, and overseas assignments in Thailand 1972 – 74 and Botswana 1980 – 84. In 1985 he moved to Scotland when he was appointed to the post of Senior Economic Adviser in the Scottish Office, a post he held for eight years.
In 1993 he was appointed Group Chief Economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland a position he held for 12 years. On retirement from this post in 2005 he moved to The David Hume Institute where he held the position of Director until 2014. In that same year he was also appointed to the BBC Board of Governors for Scotland and became a Member of the Competition Commission/Competition and Markets Authority.
Following formation of the BBC Trust in 2007 he transitioned to the new governing body where he served as a Trustee until 31 December 2010. In 2010 he was appointed to the post of vice-chair of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. He assumed the position of Chair in 2014, a position he held until 2020. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the RZSS in 2020. In 2011 he was appointed a Board member of Scottish Enterprise.
Jeremy was a regular contributor on economic affairs to the Scottish press and to radio and television, writing a monthly column for The Herald from 2005 to 2022.
Jeremy Peat received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from the University of Aberdeen in 2000 and an Honorary Doctorate from Herriot-Watt University in 2010. He was a visiting professor in economics at the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Strathclyde and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Scotland.
He was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2005, under the discipline C4 – Economics and Social Sciences and served as a Council member from October 2021 – March 2025. Jeremy played an active part in the affairs of the Society serving on the Nominations Group (Gender) December 2012 – February 2015, the Appointments Panel September 2013 – December 2016, the Health, Happiness and Wellbeing Committee June 2015 – March 2018, the Research Awards (Arts and Humanities) Committee October 2015 – March 2019, the Business Innovation Forum October 2017 – March 2021, the Prizes and Medals Committee October 2021 – March 2025, the Fellowship Committee October 2021 – June 2023, the Investment Committee October 2021 – March 2025, the Economy and Enterprise Committee November 2021 – March 2025, the Programme Committee October 2021 – Match 2025 and the Research Awards Committee April 2023 – March 2025.
This obituary was kindly written for the RSE by Professor Robert Elliott FRSE
Involved in
-
Resources
The summer 2024 edition of ReSourcE explores the pivotal role of innovation and entrepreneurship in shaping Scotland's economic future.
-
Resources
Productivity really matters to us all; and is both misunderstood and under-discussed by many. Productivity is a key factor so far as economic performance is concerned.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE contributes expert analysis to the Scottish Affairs Committee’s inquiry on Scottish Government financing, reviewing the robustness of the Barnett formula, calling for multi-year funding settlements and better communication to elected officials on how the funding system operates.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Parliament's inquiry on managing Scotland’s finances.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE believes that investment in the well-being of women is crucial for societal good and the economy.
-
Advice Papers
The report calls for policy on the transition to be promoted as an investment opportunity, including job creation and global competitiveness,
-
Advice Papers
The RSE's response to the Scottish Parliament Covid-19 Committee’s inquiry on the impact of Covid-19 on labour market inactivity.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE responds to an inquiry on post-pandemic economic growth focusing on the Scottish labour market with its unique challenges.
-
Advice Papers
The strong performance in the UK venture capital does not translate across all regionsdue to the dominance of the "Golden Triangle".
-
Advice Papers
The RSE responds to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Resource Spending Review (RSR) Framework.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE response to the Scottish Parliament Economy and Fair Work Committee's call for views on Scotland's Supply Chain.
-
Advice Papers
RSE response to the Scottish Government's Tax Policy and the Budget consultation.
-
Advice Papers
The Cumberford-Little Report provides valuable analysis of the role, contribution and impact of our colleges and is welcomed by the RSE.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE response to the Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee's Impact of COVID-19 on Public Finances and the Fiscal Framework inquiry.
-
Advice Papers
The RSE has responded to a Call for Evidence from the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy, and Fair Work Committee on the Bill for a Scottish National Investment Bank.
