Clydeside represented the industrial heart of Scotland with shipbuilding the largest industry. After the depression in in the 1920s and the Wall Street Crash in 1929 the industry became a shadow of its former self. The Second World War gave a rebirth to the prosperity of the traditional industries. The growth of militant unions put pay to reviving industries in the long term when customers looked elsewhere for guaranteed deliveries. The east coast found new prosperity with the oil boom in the 1970s.
A new generation of enterprenuers has created a new life in light industries like electronics. Edinburgh is fighting to maintain its prominence as a key financial centre. The country has an excellent education system that is considered more effective than England. The boast is when England had two universtities, Scotland had four. Politically, Scotland leans to the left and juggles with the idea of nationalism. Recent independant politics have been tarnished by the enforced resignation of a First Minister. The construction of the parliament building has risen from £40million to £400million. Tourism is one of the country's main industries.
