Hours and Earnings in the Northern Ireland Labour Market
As noted in this blog last week, there has been a significant recovery in the labour market for both Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. However it was also noted that the pace of recovery in the labour market has not so far been reflected in economic growth. While UK economic...
Examining Unemployment Traps in the Republic of Ireland
As individuals transition from unemployment to employment they experience losses of welfare payments and entitlements, gains in earned gross income and they begin to pay income taxes and social insurance contributions on their earned income. To assess this impact it is possible to calculate a...
Uncertainty and Economic Recovery
Slowly, the Irish economy is recovering; very slowly! Over the weekend, I and other economists contributed to a journal.ie article ( see here) on the two-speed nature of the recovery. While the exchequers finances are improving (lower unemployment, higher employment, some increased spending...
Monday Blog: Après Piketty
In scenes slightly reminiscent of the papal visit to Ireland in 1979 the departure of what the media has styled ‘rockstar’ Thomas Piketty has left a curious void. Was it a temporary mid-summer event to fete the fascinating and seductive ideas of a left-leaning French economist while regretting all...
Monday Blog: Piketty on inequality
''It is hard to imagine an economy and a society that can continue functioning indefinitely with such extreme divergence between social groups” – so writes Thomas Piketty on page 297 of ‘Capital the 21stCentury’. The book is a serious read but not beyond the reach of most readers. It is very well...
Monday Blog: Some data on public sector pensions in the Republic of Ireland
The Government in the Republic of Ireland spends just over €3 billion a year on pensions to retired public servants (or their spouses). This represents approximately 2% of GDP, 6% of total ‘voted’ public expenditure or 16% of the total public service payroll. These payments are made to persons who...
Unemployment falls, but at a slower rate
The latest CSO data shows a stabilisation in unemployment rates when compared to the previous month. The standard unemployment rate is currently at 11.8% for May, identical to the rate in April, and 12.0% for the period January to March. This is equivalent to roughly 4,300 less people unemployed...
The Living Wage points to broader understanding of low pay
Yesterday’s launch of the Republic of Ireland Living Wage adds to a growing international set of similar figures. The number, which will be updated annually from here on, was calculated by the Living Wage Technical Group. It is €11.45 for 2014. There are a number of contexts for this figure: • The...
Monday Blog: Tábhacht Postanna, Pá, Tithe
An príomh rud atá in easnamh sa tír seo faoi láthair ná dóchas – dóchas atá bunaithe ar fhírinní agus ar fhéidireachtaí na sochaí. Tá teipeadh le straitéis na déine san Eoraip. Tá an tuarascáil is nua ag an gcomissiún Eorpach Ní thugann an cháipéis aon tuarthaí nua dóchas agus athrú bunúsach do...
Monday Blog: Jobs, Wages, Homes
Following 6 years of declining or stagnant living standards many people are wondering what the future holds. The gathering crisis of accommodation and social housing has caught many by surprise. While there has been a welcome pick up in employment and a very modest fall in unemployment these changes...