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Dr SJ Clark (Letters, 26 February) agrees that Norwegians pay high taxes on high wages but asks why businesses in (an independent) Scotland would be obliged to raise wages to match high taxes if Scotland follows Norway’s example.

High wages can only occur in an independent Scotland if we achieve a comparable level of prosperity to Norway, Denmark, Finland and similar countries. I do not believe that Scotland and the Scots are inherently inferior to these others.

That some think us incapable of doing as well as similar countries is perhaps a comment on the effects of 300 years of Union. I shall not attempt a detailed prediction of the future but I do believe that if we use courage and common sense, which we like to think of as Scottish characteristics, we can expect an independent Scotland to do as well as our Scandinavian neighbours.

DAVID STEVENSON Blacket Place, Edinburgh