New Report on Republic’s Income Distribution
The latest NERI Research inBrief, entitled Income Distribution, Pre-distribution and Re-distribution: latest data for the Republic of Ireland, provides the latest information on income distribution in the Republic of Ireland. Pre-distribution, the direct income distribution reflects a large...
Reforming Tax Credits in Budget 2014
Taxation options are a key context for the forthcoming Budget (October). However, given the distortionary effect of any taxation change, and the fragility of the domestic economy, any choices around raising additional tax revenues are challenging. These challenges are magnified given the notable...
NERI Seminar Dublin: Can the Rehn-Meidner model be a guiding star for EU countries like Ireland?
Presentation slides for this seminar.
Budget 2014: Some Tax Options
On Saturday last, July 13th, Claiming Our Future held a conference in Corke Park to consider the options and policy choices for Budget 2014. As part of the conference, I presented some options on taxation - my slides are available here. In it I argued that the Budget should focus on growth and...
Income: The Gender Divide
There are many measures examining differences in various socio-economic characteristics among men and women. In general, women are better educated, healthier, live longer but earn less - factors which in themselves point towards gaps in societal equality for both sexes. Focusing just on income, it...
Monday Blog: We need a change of course and we need it now
While caution is always advisable in examining the latest quarterly data, the release by the Central Statistics Office of the latest quarterly national accounts was something of a wake-up call to those eager for news of a recovery. The Republic of Ireland is in a deep stagnation. The downturn has...
Monday Blog: If Governments were really only like households
A visitor from outer space might be forgiven for concluding that the only or main economic problem confronting European States was deficit and debts - Government deficits and debts. The corollary of this problem is - of course - austerity to cure the ailment. Or is it? Lets compare the Government...
Fiscal Stimulus, Unemployment and House Prices
The latest NERI seminar, from Kieran McQuinn and Robert Kelly of the Central Bank, examined the relationship between unemployment and house prices and used this relationship to examine the impact on banking defaults / mortgage defaults of economic growth. Modelling a fiscal stimulus of €2b, they...
Ireland has the lowest Tax Wedge in Europe
The tax wedge measures the difference between the total labour costs to the employer (wages + employers PRSI) and the corresponding net take-home pay for an employee (gross wages - all income taxes and PRSI). It is generally reported as a percentage of total labour costs. The latest OECD figures for...