Population decline and a moribund economy have Scotland's politicians and planners in a quandary and will be on voters' minds in today's parliamentary elections, which take place on the same day as elections to the Welsh Assembly and local elections in England.
Four years ago Scotland elected the first parliament to sit north of the border for nearly 300 years. The support for devolution remains strong but there is much debate on whether it is delivering.
The government, a coalition of the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, is on the defensive. Four years of power have not delivered the promised improvements, especially in health and education. The Liberal Democrats, under the confident leadership of Mr Jim Wallace, are expected to gain seats.
It is different altogether for the Labour Party led by the First Minister, Mr Jack McConnell. In the election of 1999, the Labour Party predicted it would kill its main rival, the Scottish National Party, "stone dead". It has done nothing of the sort.
The SNP has sensibly pushed the independence issue to the background, saying only that it will call a referendum within four years of winning power. Its strong criticism of the state of the public services is expected to win it extra seats.
The Labour Party will also lose votes to the left. Its lack of emphasis on tackling poverty has given the Scottish Socialist Party and its charismatic leader, Mr Tommy Sheridan, growing support.
The Conservatives, despite having a most effective leader in Mr David McLetchie, are facing electoral embarrassment and may find themselves supplanted by the Liberal Democrats as the third largest party.
The Holyrood parliament passed 62 bills in the past four years and over 1,300 pieces of subordinate legislation. It has established credentials for projecting Scotland's interests but needs to work much better at the things that matter and be seen to do so.
In Wales, the process of devolution is not as well developed as in Scotland. The 60 members of the Welsh Assembly elected today will aim to change that over the next four years.
They have public opinion on their side, but must persuade a reluctant UK government to respond by agreeing to transfer more powers and thereby enhance democratic government.
The Belfast Agreement has brought Ireland, north and south, closer to Scotland and Wales, which has been one of its most progressive achievements.