Monday Blog: Housing for homes - a classic case of market failure
‘What is the concept of market failure and give an example’ was once asked in a school examination of economics. Here is a tip if you are studying economics, yourself: take housing in Ireland as an example. It ticks lots of boxes: A chronic under-supply of housing at current cost, credit, demand and...
Monday Blog: Labour Market research on the island of Ireland
The fifth all-Ireland inter-disciplinary annual Labour Market conference took place in NUI Maynooth on 12th May. The biggest such conference yet, it drew participation from trade unionists, researchers and policy analysts from across the island. An overview of the 32 presentations at the conference...
Monday Blog: Are levels of social welfare payment the problem or is it something else?
‘Why don’t they get a job?’ “Isn’t social welfare making people chose ‘leisure’ over ‘work’?” ‘Aren’t social payments in Ireland way above those in the UK and elsewhere?. Only a particular perspective and frame of mind among economists, politicians or commentators trigger these sorts of questions...
Monday Blog: A bridge to a new deal
Last week, the NERI published its 21st edition of the NERI Quarterly Economic Observer . Since its first edition and foundation as a trade union associated Institute this day five years ago, the 27th March 2012, (QEO Spring 2012 ) we have continued to make the case for an enhanced programme of...
UK Spring Budget. The calm before the storm
In what will be the UK's last Spring Budget, earlier today Philip Hammond gave what could only be described as a lacklustre financial statement to the House of Commons. There were moves to increase funding for Social Care and a small reversal of the increases to Business rates in England. At UK...
Presentation slides to Retired Workers Committee: The economic and social contribution of older people
External event contribution Dr Lisa Wilson, NERI - presentation for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Retired Workers Seminar North/South held in ICTU Belfast office on 23rd and 24th Feburary, 2017. The presentation was on 'The economic and social contribution of oder people'.
NERI Seminar Dublin: Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2016
Slides from NERI Seminar on the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2016, presentation by Daragh McCarthy, Researcher, Housing Agency on 22nd February, 2017. https://www.housingagency.ie/Housing/media/Media/Publications/Summary-of-Social-Housing-Assessment-Needs-2016.pdf Relevant publication from...
NERI Seminar Dublin: Investment and the Fiscal Rules
Slides from NERI Seminar on Investment and the Fiscal Rules presented by Eddie Casey, Chief Economist & Head of Secretariat, Irish Fiscal Advisory Council on 8th February, 2017.
Northern Ireland’s draft Programme for Government revealed all of the signs of a power-sharing government on the brink of collapse
In the months leading up to Martin McGuinness’s resignation as Deputy First Minister and refusal to immediately nominate a replacement calling to a halt power-sharing in Northern Ireland, and the triggering of Assembly elections there was growing skepticism and concern as to why it was taking so...
Monday Blog: Are special purpose vehicles a good idea?
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a general technical term that covers a multitude. It refers to a wide variety of arrangements whereby a financial entity is established for a ‘special purpose’ as the title suggests. The National Asset Management Agency is a type of SPV set up to buy distressed...