Overview of Budget 2015
There are some positive elements to the Budget but overall it represents a major missed opportunity. The economics behind Budget 2015 are shaky to say the least. An expansionary budget based on tax cuts for the better off fails the economic best practice test and also fails the equity test. The...
Budget 2015 and Public Investment in Social Housing
There are over 90,000 people on the waiting list for social housing. This level of demand for a basic need required a substantial investment in housing, and, in this regard, Budget 2015 was a significant first step. The headline investment of €2.2 billion over the coming three years to provide 10...
NERI Seminar: Budget 2015
Dr Tom McDonnell's presentation on the impact of some of the main measures contained in Budget 2015
Water charges: affordability and distribution of cost
User based water charges went live on the 1st of October. Consumption charges are regressive, impact disproportionately on low income households and the introduction of user based water charges raises significant affordability issues. The current system of free allowances is expensive, poorly...
The case for investment in social housing
"Regeneration schemes”, we must never forget, are not just about plans, structures or budgets. They are not just about the physical houses provided. They are about communities that are enabled to thrive and flourish. They are about people who are being acknowledged and encouraged to develop a proud...
Monday Blog: Getting our priorities right
A curious feature of public debate in the run-up to Budget 2015 in the Republic of Ireland next month is the extent of focus on reducing income tax for the top 20% of workers (those paying the top income tax rate). These account for just under 400,000 persons at work and make up 18% of all tax cases...
NERI Seminar: Budget Changes in VAT excise and levies
Slides from NERI Seminar on 10th September 2014. The presentation was accompanied by and NERI working paper: Collins, M.L. (2014), ‘Modelling the Distributive Impact of Indirect Taxation Changes in the Republic of Ireland’ NERI Working Paper, 2014/20. Dublin, NERI.
Taxing Questions, Taxing Answers
Following the publication of the recent NERI working paper on total household tax contributions, there have been a number of issues raised by commentators and others on the paper, its data and its conclusions. Of course, given the topic, that comes as no surprise. Taxation is always a contentious...
Monday Blog: Youth labour market still in recession
The week gone by brought some mixed news in regards to wages and employment trends in the Republic of Ireland. The recovery in total estimated employment from about the end of 2012 has continued into 2014 but at a much reduced pace. At the same time, wages are dropping slightly on average (before...
How much tax do people really pay
How much Tax do people really pay? Too often considerations of the taxation system are focused on income taxes, or income related taxes like social insurance; a narrow perspective given the composition of taxation revenue received by the exchequer. Indeed, the oft-cited phrase ‘taxpayers’ is...