http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2821 2013-05-22T09:55:44Z 2013-05-22T09:55:44Z McCarthy, Thomas G. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2958 2010-06-03T15:55:32Z 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: On the use of structural funds Author: McCarthy, Thomas G. Abstract: Recent efforts to secure EC funding by Irish governments, and in particular Irish officials, have been a resounding success. A priori one might expect that the richest country would be the largest net contributor in GDP share terms and the poorest country the largest net recipient. Our a priori expectation is not fulfilled. However, these are not such as to alter the main message. Ireland does very well from the EC in financial terms. This is no surprise and it serves merely to confirm the perception that we are experts in the art of "grantmanship". But will this success translate itself into a permanent improvement in our welfare? Are there any principles that can guide the spending of this money so as to best achieve this end? These are questions for tonight's symposium. This contribution will consider the impact that public expenditure can have on economic growth. In particular we survey some recent evidence on this issue. We conclude with some tentative lessons which may provide a basis for our discussion. Description: Read before the society, 4 March 1993

1993-01-01T00:00:00Z Durkan, Joe http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2919 2010-06-03T15:55:32Z 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Background and some issues Author: Durkan, Joe Abstract: The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), and the guidance element of the European Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) associated with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) constitute the Structural Funds of the European Community. Each of these Funds was begun separately and was designed to meet particular needs. For example, the Regional Fund was originally designed to mitigate the effect on regions of the Community of existing inequalities by region, adverse effects resulting from the operation of the Rome Treaty, and a natural tendency to centralisation and the effects this has on the periphery, while the Guidance section of the European Guidance and Guarantee Fund was focused on structural improvement in farming. The Act establishing the Single Market (the Single European Act) required that these funds be reorganised to become more effective. The 1988 Community budget settlement agreed that the ERDF and the ESF should increase, with the level of spending in 1993 double that of 1987, and with a concentration of spending in poorer regions. This was taken further in 1989 when Heads of State and Government, taking not only the ERDF and ESF but the EAGGF (Guidance Section) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), established the Community Support Framework (CSF) - namely the set of reorganised Structural Funds, designed, as the name implies, to support development in areas whose own resources were inadequate to reduce inequalities between regions within the EC. The issue of inequalities between regions and countries within the EC has been the subject of much theoretical debate - Krugman's annexe in the Padoa-Schioppa report remains the clearest statement of the issues. There has been much less discussion of the numbers and what lies behind them. Description: Read before the Society, 4 March, 1993

1993-01-01T00:00:00Z Keating, W. Keane, T. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2880 2010-06-03T15:55:28Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Irish industrial structure, 1979-1985: a longitudinal analysis Author: Keating, W.; Keane, T. Abstract: The manufacturing sector of the economy is vital in that it is the engine of economic growth. Despite developments in other areas of the economy, it still carries much of the potential for job creation, either directly or indirectly, in the years ahead. For this reason and also because of the considerable level of state expenditure on industrial development, good statistics on the performance of this sector are essential in order to have a full understanding of the factors underlying changes in output and employment, in particular. Developments in Irish manufacturing industry in the 1980's have been the subject of much debate. This has centered to a considerable extent on the rapid increase in productivity which has been a function of output growth, quite substantial in comparison to that of our European partners, and declining employment. The authors hope that this paper can be a contribution to this debate by looking at some of the structural changes which have taken place in the last decade and identifying at least some of the factors which have influenced these changes. Description: Read before the Society, 18 May, 1989

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Sexton, J. J. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2879 2010-06-03T15:55:28Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: On producers and users of statistics Author: Sexton, J. J. Abstract: It is always somewhat difficult for presidents of societies like The Statistical and Social Inquiry Society to decide on an appropriate topic for a presidential address. It is not normally an occasion for an in-depth assessment of any particular issue but frequently takes the form of a "state of the art" expose relating to some areas of current interest. Some suggestions as to future directions to be followed may also be indicated. Broadly speaking I propose to follow (or attempt to follow) this course in relation to my chosen topic. The main reason why I have selected this particular issue derives from the fact that I have some experience as both a producer and a user of statistics. I spent some eighteen years in the CSO and for more than eight years now I have been engaged in research of a socio-economic nature. I felt that there might be some benefit therefore in expressing my views from both points of view. I might add of course that throughout this paper, even though it is not always said, my comments relate only to Government statistics. Description: Read before the Society, 27 April, 1989

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Hayes, J.J. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2878 2010-06-03T15:55:28Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: CRH pic investment strategy - an overview Author: Hayes, J.J. Abstract: Your President invited me to speak on CRH's investment strategy, with particular emphases on external acquisitions and equity participations, domestic diversification and export operations. I am happy to share with you the evolvement of our strategy. CRH resulted from a merger between Irish Cement and Roadstone in 1970. Post the merger there have been three phases in its development strategy. Description: Read before the Society, 2 March, 1989

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Frain, John http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2862 2010-06-03T15:55:28Z 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Borrow and prosper - notes on the user cost of capital Author: Frain, John Abstract: It is often argued that many firms can do very well by borrowing. The conclusion is based on two points which may be illustrated as follows. Firstly suppose that the effective rate of income tax is 50%, the nominal interest rate 8% and inflation 3%. Then the effective interest rate after deducting tax allowances on interest paid is 4% which is equivalent to a real interest rate of 1%. Now suppose that the nominal interest rate increases to 12% and inflation to 7%, then tax allowances reduce the effective interest rate to 6% and the real interest rate becomes negative. Variations on this theme are many. Description: Read before the Society 31 May 1990

1990-01-01T00:00:00Z McGowan, Padraig http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2861 2010-06-03T15:55:32Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Money and banking in Ireland - origins development and future Author: McGowan, Padraig Abstract: Currency and banking have a relatively long tradition in Ireland. Coins have circulated for about 1,000 years and banking has been practised for some 300 years. Significant financial change was a feature of earlier periods as it has been over the past twenty five years. Current indications are that the rate of structural change in the financial sector will gain momentum between now and the end of this century. An appreciation of the past can contribute to understanding the present. Influence over future events can be improved by a greater awareness of how we adapted to change in the past. With this in mind, a brief review of the evolution of currency and banking in Ireland, both in the Republic and Northern Ireland, is presented here together with a preview of some of the major changes that will be occurring in the decades ahead. The emphasis is on the structural changes that occurred rather than an evaluation of the policies pursued but many of the issues raised are relevant to the debate about the expected changes in the financial sector in the 1990s. A wide range of publications on Irish banking has been drawn upon, many of which are cited in the Bibliography. The review is divided into three parts. Part I concentrates on the historical background and outlines the origins and development of money and banking in Ireland up to the middle of this century. Part II concentrates on the significant changes in banking and other financial institutions that have occurred in Ireland in recent decades, including the 1980s. Finally, Part III looks towards the twenty first century and integration within Europe with the emphasis on prudential supervision of banks, other financial institutions and the capital markets. Description: Read before the Society, 1 December, 1988

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Matthews, Alan http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2860 2010-06-03T15:55:28Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Common agricultural policy reform and national compensation strategies Author: Matthews, Alan Abstract: While providing income support to producers the Common Agricultural Policy also redistributes resources between EC member states. As a net agricultural exporter Ireland is a significant recipient of resource transfers in this way. Irish strategy in the past has been to maximise these transfers by supporting as high a level of price support under the CAP as possible. A reduction in agricultural support is one of the objectives of the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations now underway. If successful, this would adversely affect the size of the transfers provided through the CAP. This paper quantifies the benefit to Ireland from the CAP in recent years and looks at possible compensation options if CAP transfers were reduced. It argues that switching resources from CAP to non-CAP spending within the EC budget could leave this country better off in real terms while also being desirable on other grounds. Description: Read before the Society, 10 November, 1988

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Sweeney, Paul http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2859 2010-06-03T15:55:32Z 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Public enterprise in Ireland: a statistical description and analysis Author: Sweeney, Paul Abstract: There is much debate on the role of public enterprises, but little analytical work has been done on the subject in Ireland. Fitzgerald (1961), Bristow (1964/65, 1968, 1969 and 1982), Jacobson (1978), the National Economic and Social Council (1980), Dorgan (1984 and 1986), the Joint Oireachtas Committee on State Sponsored Bodies (October, 1986), McDowell (1987), Walsh (1987) and Sweeney (1988a) have undertaken studies, the majority of which have been largely descriptive, and there also have been individual case studies of enterprises, for example, on Aer Lingus (O'Donoghue, 1968/69), Bord na Mona (Bristow and Fell, 1971), the ESB, (Roche, 1978) (Manning and McDowell, 1984), NET (Blackwell et al., 1983). In addition there have been institutional examinations of enterprises, the most important of which are the reports of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on State Sponsored Bodies (JOCSSB) on individual enterprises, and there have been government sponsored consultant examinations, for example, McKinsey on CIE (1971 and 1980), and Fletcher (1971) and Jakobsen (1984) on the ESB. Description: Read before the Society, 15 February, 1990

1990-01-01T00:00:00Z O'Riordan, William K. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/2858 2010-06-03T15:55:28Z 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Is Irish public sector employment a burden? Author: O'Riordan, William K. Abstract: In Ireland at the time of writing, strenuous efforts are being made to reduce the numbers at work in the public sector. Employment cuts of one form or another in health, education and public administration make news almost daily. This is not altogether surprising, since Irish economists have, for a generation, been warning of the disasters which are likely to be caused by the growth of public sector employment. As a result, it came to be believed that the Irish public sector was much too big and growing at an almost uncontrollable rate. The consequences of this were expected to be high unemployment, reduced employment in the non-government sectors, and a slowing of economic growth. The main reason for these effects was held to be the unbearable tax burden imposed by the public sector. However, the growing political power of the public sector and the draining of talent from the 'productive1 private sector were also feared. Description: Read before the Society, 26 October, 1989

1990-01-01T00:00:00Z