Gender budgeting in Scotland: a work in progress

After almost twenty years of devolved government in Scotland, during which gender analysis of the budget process has been advocated, this article explores the discursive framing of gender budgeting and progress towards implementation. Charting historical and conceptual developments, from feminist economics and feminist institutionalist perspectives, the article highlights the significance of engaged political, civil society and policy actors; the need for clear conceptual framing; and the time it has taken for limited progress to embed. Conscious of financial constraints and economic commitments, including an ambitious extension of publicly funded childcare, the discussion highlights the positive advances in integrating gender equality into economic analysis. It offers insight into the institutional arrangements and advocacy that have maintained pressure for the Scottish budget process to be subject to effective scrutiny and to function as a key driver of gender equality.