This book, originally published in 1978 concentrates on the structure and growth of the North Sea oil industry in Scotland. Drawing on relevant areas of economic theory, it examines the structure of the offshore Scottish oil industry, the employment generated by the industry, technological change created by oil and its impact on rural areas of the Highlands. For each subject discussed future developments are discussed which remain as pertinent today as when the book was first published, particularly given the issues surrounding Scotland's economic in relation to possible Scottish independence.