Irish income figures exclude key sources of income for top earners and overstate the income of many low-wage workers
The Survey on Income and Living Conditions, which forms the basis for most of our discussion on income distribution in Ireland, excludes key sources of income at the top and overstates the income of many low-wage workers. When we hear, ‘we have the most progressive income tax system in the world’,...
False economies and the elephant in the room
What should guide fiscal policy in the short-to-medium term? What are our goals? How should governments respond to the economic wreckage of the Coronavirus? We can debate policy specifics but the general policy thrust has to date been broadly appropriate. Governments in Europe have moved swiftly and...
Coronavirus and Northern Ireland: Initial Indications
As we continue to monitor and analyse the impact of the coronavirus in Northern Ireland more and more data is coming to light that helps us to fill in the gaps in our knowledge. Earlier this month, we got the first official estimates for Northern Ireland of the uptake of the UK government schemes...
What was happening in the Irish labour market before Covid-19?
In our latest blog, NERI economist Ciarán Nugent looks at the NERI annual labour market report which tracks indicators related to employment and wages, with a focus on the experiences of young people. The NERI annual labour market report is out this week tracking a selection of indicators related to...
The obsession with short-term fiscal deficits locks us in to ‘getting back to normal’-low wages and inadequate, under-resourced vital services
As we enter the fourth month of lockdown and phase 2 of easing restrictions the discussion turns to the ‘sustainability’ of the pandemic emergency income supports. Depending on who you are talking to, sustainability might mean one of several things. It is important to remember however, that the...
NERI Submission to the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Budgetary Position
Submission on expenditure and the budgetary position written by Dr Tom McDonnell, Co-director at the NERI for the Covid-19 response committee. The Covid-19 response committee is gathering submissions on a range of topics including on social protection policy and on public expenditure and fiscal...
A route to higher wages in Northern Ireland?
Do Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining still provide a route to better pay? The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world of work beyond recognition in the space of a few short weeks. As businesses look to plot a way toward reopening in the aftermath of lockdown it is becoming clear that this can...
Unlocking the economy: a slow and steady stepwise approach
In our latest blog, NERI Co-director Dr Tom McDonnell looks at ways of unlocking the economy and preparing for our new future. Predictions that the global economy is entering its worst recession since the great depression are being realised. The first quarter data is dire and the second quarter data...
NERI Video Series ep 10 - Implications of the fallout from Coronavirus on housing
In NERI Video Series ep 10, NERI economists Paul Goldrick-Kelly and Ciarán Nugent discuss the implications of the fallout from the Coronavirus on housing in Ireland.
Decent employment for younger generations should be the focus of the stimulus package
In our latest blog, NERI economist Ciarán Nugent looks at the effect of the Covid-19 crisis on the younger generations in Ireland. The latest figures, released on Monday are extremely worrying. More than twice the amount of employees that have been kept on through the wage subsidy scheme (283,000)...