Maybe it is true:  the more you have the more you get.  That’s if recent CSO data is anything to go by.  The statistical agency’s Annual Earnings database provides a…

The media has been full of stories of businesses – in particular, restaurants – coming under considerable pressure and closing down. What is the explanation?  Genuine economic strain?  Or is…

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s recent Fiscal Assessment Report got a lot of attention for describing the 2024 budget as ‘gimmickry’ (see note below re: link).   However, the Council’s examination…

In the public debate there is a sense that we have ‘solved unemployment’.  Apart from the recession-austerity period, unemployment has been low.  It fell below 5 percent in 2000 and…

While the discussion about falling GDP and its impact on the Irish economy is important – especially in assessing the performance of our multi-national sector – we are in danger…

An employers’ body – the Federation of Early Childcare Providers – has called a three-day ‘strike’ in the childcare sector.  They are closing down creches and early years’ services over…

Education is vital to people’s personal development and life chances, to economic growth and productivity, to social prosperity and equality.  But you wouldn’t think so when listening to pre-budget debates. …

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is warning against over-spending in this year’s budget – over-spending relative to the 5 percent spending rule.  It could undermine confidence in Ireland’s public finances,…

Two polls, two different narratives.  A Red C poll showed that an overwhelming majority in favour of abolishing the Universal Social Charge.  An Ireland Thinks poll shows that a clear…

If the government parties were committed to implementing the proposals in the Programme for Government, they would not be having this current tax-cut row.  The Programme states: ‘In Budget 2021,…

The Taoiseach is making a big play for ‘middle Ireland’.  In an interview with the Irish Times he stated: ‘. . . our basis for participation in this Government is…

The background noise in the public debate is that since inflation is ‘easing off’, prices should start coming down. We have heard this in the coverage over the meeting between…

There is a growing debate over why prices are so high, why prices aren’t falling, what is driving prices.  Conor Pope has another instalment in his series on price outrages. …

The President, Michael D. Higgins, has upset some economists.  According to a front-page Business Post article entitled ‘Economists round on President over ‘lazy’ and ‘uniformed spiel’:  “Economists have rounded on…

With inflation rising unexpectedly in February (and at one of the fastest monthly rates since the beginning of the crisis) the question being increasingly asked is:  are profits driving inflation? …

‘Facts are meaningless.  You can use facts to prove anything that’s remotely true.  Facts schmacts.’ (Homer Simpson) Fact:  private rental accommodation supply is falling.  Between 2016 and 2021, the number…

It is two years to the next election.  What are the potential alternatives to the current coalition?  What are the chances of the first government led by some other party…

Everyone should be guaranteed a minimum amount of energy, either free or at below-market rates.  This is the principle behind ‘Universal Basic Energy’.  By redistributing costs from lower to higher…

A couple of months ago, the UK’s High Pay Centre  and abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, published ‘Worker voice in corporate governance: how to bring perspectives from the workforce into the…

Owners, and their representatives, have been highlighting the challenges to businesses. A poll of 250 SMEs reported that more than two-thirds of SMEs believe there is a “possibility” they will…