Monday Blog: That time of year again
It is that time of year again. Like in the neighbouring island we drive on the left hand side of the road (as a general rule) and have an Annual Big Day (known as Budget Day) when the Minister for Finance announces the budget for the coming year. There is a lead in of many months of discussion in...
Monday Blog: What fiscal space?
In many respects the debate about ‘fiscal space’ is a major turn off for most people as it employs language, terms and concepts that are mechanical, contrived and highly dependent on questionable assumptions. Most policy makers tend to leave the technical details to specialist staff while they get...
Monday Blog: Do we overspend on health?
Ministerial responsibility for health services in the Republic of Ireland has been compared to a stay in some African country. For all its woes and failings the National Health Service (NHS) seems to be a badge of national pride in the UK even 60 years after its establishment. What is it about the...
Monday Blog: Women in the workforce, low pay and the cost of early childhood care and education.
Inequality of pay between women and men is a well documented statistical fact. But, what is the relationship between this gender gap and low pay? How is early childhood care relevant? And what are the implications for public policy and trade unions? This Blog looks at these questions in the Republic...
UK Budget 2016 - Ominous Revisions
Today's statement in the House of Commons marked George Osborne's eighth budget in just under six years as Chancellor. Whilst there were many eye-catching policies such as a tax on sugary drinks and reforms to ISAs, they could not distract from some major revisions to UK economic growth. The Office...
Fiscal Space, Irish Water and Water Charges
In an earlier blog I noted that the government's available fiscal space over the next five years, after accounting for demographic costs and the indexing of public spending for inflation, would be somewhere in the region of €2.5 billion to €4.5 billion. The Fiscal Council estimate €3.2 billion. The...
Social Housing in Northern Ireland
Social housing in Northern Ireland faces unique challenges over the coming years in terms of capacity, finance and delivery. Moreover there are questions over the structure of organisation who deliver social housing and how that could be amended to best suit future needs.This InBrief looks to...
Fiscal Rules, Fiscal Space and Growth Friendly Fiscal Policies
The reformed Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and the creation of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) have enhanced supervision of Irish fiscal policy and reduced the range of feasible fiscal stances an Irish government can promise or take. This new reality was brought into sharp focus with the...
How Much Would a FTT Raise?
This month’s NERI seminar featured a new research paper which examined the likely revenue yield for the Republic of Ireland from the implementation of a financial transactions tax (FTT). In 2011 the European Commission outlined proposals for a Europe wide FTT. Since then the proposal has been...
Tackling Economic Inequality
One could write a book, indeed volumes, on the topic of economic inequality and its possible causes, implications and remedies. In a blog (based on a short input to a recent conference) it is only possible to point towards a number of key issues; specifically six core areas relevant to our thinking...