Scotland will struggle to hit the top two economic targets set by the SNP Government, according to academics.

More than half its targets have either been hit already or are on track, though there are doubts that the data is reliable.

Economists at the Centre for Public Policy for Regions, based at Glasgow and Strathclyde universities, are tracking the Scottish Government's top priority of pushing the nation's economic growth rate up to UK levels by 2011, and up to the average for small European countries by 2017.

On current evidence, it found that will be difficult to achieve. The target of pushing Scotland into the top 25% of developed countries for its productivity was found to be "well away" from being met.

The assessment comes seven months after First Minister Alex Salmond launched his economic growth strategy document, which contained a series of targets, also including population, closing income inequality, regional inequality, healthy life expectancy and reducing carbon emissions. The economists found Scotland has already met the target of having Britain's highest employment rate, but has work to do if it is to catch up with the top performers.

The aim of matching average European population growth is on track to being exceeded. An increase in healthy life expectancy is on track, but the data is "erratic".

Closing the income inequality gap is being partially met "but very slowly" and further action is likely to be needed. Regional inequalities have narrowed every year since 1999. On carbon emissions, the modest target for 2011 is achievable, but the 80% cut by 2050 is not yet sufficiently defined to judge.

Jo Armstrong, a co-author of the study, concluded: "The picture overall is mixed. Whilst the majority of targets appear to be on track, the government's prime targets, of higher growth and higher productivity, are two notable laggards. If the improvement in population growth comes about, then this will help growth, but even then the top two targets are likely to be difficult to achieve."