Notes on the Front

Commentary on Irish Political Economy by Michael Taft, researcher for SIPTU

Month: July 2020

  • Stimulus, Deadweight, and Reheats

    Any critique of the Government’s July Stimulus should acknowledge that they had to plan it in a metaphorical fog – not knowing the duration of the public health crisis, the…


  • Let Mayo Decide

    With Dara Calleary replacing Barry Cowen, Mayo finally has a Minister.  This should assuage the Western People.  When the Government initially ignored Mayo and all other Connaught counties, the paper’s…


  • Biting the Wormy Apple

    What has been hailed as a ‘victory’ for Ireland and Apple in the verdict of the EU’s General Court could turn out to be pyrrhic at best.  Indeed, the biggest…


  • Stimulating the Economy and Society: a Wishlist

    The Government will be announcing its stimulus plan in the next few days.   This will continue with the announcement of sectoral initiatives under the National Economic Plan to be announced…


  • The State is a Job Creator

    David McWilliams makes a provocative argument in his recent article for the Irish Times that ‘Governments can't 'create' jobs, so why do they keep pontificating about it?’.  I respectfully disagree. …


Navigation

About

Commentary on Irish Political Economy by Michael Taft, researcher for SIPTU