http://hdl.handle.net/2262/9158 2013-05-19T20:05:55Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8967 Title: The impact of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order on competition in the Irish grocery trade Author: Donnelly, Gerry Abstract: This paper analyses the history and key provisions of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries Order) since its inception in 1956 and demonstrates how the most recent incarnation of the Order in 1987 was fundamentally different from its predecessors. The Paper concludes that the provisions of the 1987 Order were self-defeating and contradictory, and, because they re-introduced a form of resale price maintenance into the grocery trade, represented a reversal of Government policy of the previous 30 years and served only to encourage rather than prevent anti-competitive pricing. Statistical and economic evidence is used to demonstrate how the Order eliminated price competition from the trade and encouraged vertical integration between suppliers and retailers that resulted in increased market concentration. In this way, the paper establishes a chain of cause and effect between the Order and higher grocery prices in Ireland. The evidence also points to the fact that the Order was incapable of achieving any of its stated objectives – including those of protecting suppliers from the buying power of large multiple retailers and guaranteeing the continued existence of small independent grocers. The conclusion is drawn, based on an analysis of market trends and structures, that the Irish grocery trade is segmented in two niche markets serving respectively the convenience and “one-stop” customer and that there is no reason to believe that revoking the Order will damage competition or result in any consumer detriment. Description: Read before the Society, 23 March 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8963 Title: The impact of macro-economic growth on the income distribution in Ireland 1987-2004 Author: O'Donoghue, Cathal Abstract: The Republic of Ireland has been the fastest growing economy in the OECD over the latter half of the 1990’s, an expansion known as the Celtic Tiger. Some commentators have commented on the gains from the boom being concentrated amongst the top of the income distribution. In this paper we shall try to understand what has happened to inequality over the period 1987-2004 and to understand the determinants of the changes in inequality. Description: Read before the Society, 7th April 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8925 Title: Testing which proposed regulations need “competition-proofing” Author: Lyons, Seán Abstract: When assessing the likely net impact of regulation, many jurisdictions test for specific effects on areas of concern, such as small businesses or the environment, as well as for more generalised costs and benefits. This paper considers how best to design a negative-clearance test for the competition effects of regulations. One such test, the well-documented UK “competition filter”, has serious shortcomings. Important classes of potentially damaging measures will not trigger the UK filter, and we illustrate this by applying the filter to four controversial measures that are currently, or were recently, on the statute books in Ireland. Structural and other features of the UK filter that lead to these outcomes are identified. We then outline an alternative test structure that should reduce such “false negatives” while remaining practical to apply. Description: Read before the Society, 26 January 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8924 Title: Origins, destinations and catchments: mapping travel to work in Ireland in 2002 Author: Walsh, Jim; Foley, Ronan; Kavanagh, Adrian; McElwain, Ashling Abstract: Over recent years there has emerged an increased awareness of the importance of strategic spatial planning and of the extent to which concepts such as place and space really matter. An enhanced understanding of the geography of living and of the economy requires not only a knowledge of where people and objects are but also of how those places relate to one another. This requires fundamentally sound data on movement patterns, of which the most important is probably the daily journey to work (Horner, 1999). In this paper we explore for the first time several aspects of the journey to work using data from the CSO 2002 Census of Population (CSO 2003a, CSO 2003b. CSO 2004a). While the approach at this stage is mainly descriptive supported by detailed mapping it is timely and it will hopefully contribute to discussion in a number of areas of public policy. These include the estimation of regional per capita levels of output (per capita GVA), the extent of the catchment areas of the National Spatial Strategy Gateways and hubs, the environmental sustainability of new trip patterns, and the impact of longer and more stressful journey times on quality of life. Description: Read before the Society, 20 October 2005 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8923 Title: Strategic aid allocation in the 21st century: lessons from the 1980’s and 1990 Author: Verschoor, Arjan Abstract: An evaluation of recipient countries’ experience with foreign aid in the 1980s and 90s shows that there is plenty of evidence that policy conditionality has by and large failed, and that there is no evidence that the policy conditions attached to aid have by and large been appropriate. In that light, is the currently advocated move in aid allocation away from policy conditionality and towards selectivity and recipient ownership of its reform programme therefore appropriate? The paper argues that the evidence on aid effectiveness in the 1980s and 90s suggests otherwise. Description: Read before the Society, 6 April 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8922 Title: Improving coherence between Irish trade and development policy from an African perspective Author: Matthews, Alan Abstract: The recent Irish Trade Policy Statement devoted a whole chapter to the trade needs of developing countries (DETE, 2005). In it, the Government recognises the role that trade policy can play in providing economic development opportunities to emerging and poorer countries. It states that achieving the development dimension of the WTO Doha Development Agenda is the most effective way of realizing that ambition. The Statement confirms that Ireland wants to assist these countries to shape the outcome of the Doha process in their interest and in a way that provides the greatest opportunity for those in need. Description: Read before the Society, 6 April 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8921 Title: Trade and development: the challenges facing the WTO Doha development road Author: Morahan, John Abstract: The WTO Ministerial meeting in Doha in November 2001 launched a new Round of world trade talks known as the Doha Development Agenda or Death. DDA represents a new approach to the goal of integrating developing countries into the world trade system. The Doha Declaration put the focus clearly on development and on the need for capacity building to help countries to participate effectively in the Doha negotiations. This was a departure from the practice under previous Trade Rounds of simply giving developing countries more time to implement agreements reached. Description: Read before the Society, 6 April 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8920 Title: Mortality statistics in Northern Ireland: past uses and future possibilities Author: O'Reilly, Dermot Abstract: The compulsory registration of births and deaths was established throughout most European countries during the 19th century. Enabling legislation was introduced for Ireland in 1863 with the first registration report produced in 1864. Mortality data are derived from the medical certification of cause of death issued by the medical practitioner together with information given to the registrar by the informant. These data fulfil the primary role of legal documentation and secondly provide a source of vital statistics on the population. For the last century such data have formed the cornerstone of our understanding of the health status of the population and of the health needs of society, but now at the start of the 21st century it is perhaps opportune to look at their current utility and possible value in future years. The legal requirement for registration remains unchanged but the question that this paper addresses is ‘in an aging society, where the exact cause of death is more difficult to discern - what is the future for mortality statistics?’ Description: Read before the Society, 27 April 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8919 Title: Public policy, sectoral specialisation and spatial concentration: Irish manufacturing 1985-2002 Author: Gleeson, Anne-Marie; Ruane, Frances; Sutherland, J. Abstract: For over fifty years Ireland has pursued an industrial policy that has had at its core the generation of sustainable manufacturing jobs spread across all regions of the country. From the late 1980s the emphasis on sustainability has increasingly been reflected in the promotion of new and expanding projects in high-tech sectors, while from the late 1990s the regional dimension of policy has been reflected in attempts to create strong manufacturing centres in the regions rather than the regional spread of projects. This paper examines the progress made between 1985 and 2002 in achieving greater sectoral specialisation and spatial dispersion in Irish manufacturing. The analysis focuses separately on multinational enterprises (MNEs) and local enterprises (LEs), and distinguishes two time periods – 1985- 1993 and 1993-2002. Net changes in employment at an abridged NACE 2-digit level are used to measure sectoral change and NUTS-2 and NUTS-3 regions are used to examine regional changes. Hirschman-Herfindahl indices are employed to measure changes in spatial concentration by sector and sectoral specialisation by county in three-year sub-periods. We find increasing sectoral and spatial concentration of MNE employment, but more spatially dispersed and less sectoral concentration of LE employment over the period. Additionally, we examine the co-location patterns of MNEs and LEs using correlation coefficients at spatial and sectoral levels, and also at county levels. At national level there is evidence of some degree of spatial separation between MNEs and LEs and a high and increasing level of sectoral dualism between MNEs and LEs in Irish manufacturing. However, at county level we find a wide variation in the patterns of co-location by sector. Description: Read before the Society, 23 February 2006 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/8898 Title: Proceedings of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland: one hundred and fifty ninth session 2005/2006 Author: SSISI 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z