http://hdl.handle.net/2262/4598 Sat, 18 May 2013 20:38:14 GMT 2013-05-18T20:38:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3992 Title: The Leaving Certificate and first year university performance Author: Moran, M. A.; Crowley, M. J. Abstract: The manner in which students are admitted for third level education and in particular the points system have become matters of increasing public controversy in recent years. While the subject is understandably emotive, a sad feature of many of the arguments presented to date has been the very limited factual support. Our purpose in this paper is threefold: firstly to introduce some research which has and is being carried out at University College Cork on the effectiveness of performance in the Leaving Certificate examination and in such alternatives as scholastic aptitude and personality tests, as measures of subsequent university performance; secondly, to suggest some statistical methodology for the analysis of data in this area; and thirdly to offer some personal comments on aspects of the overall problem in an effort to establish a fair and hopefully constructive viewpoint and to redress some misconceptions. Description: Read before the Society, 24 May 1979 Mon, 01 Jan 1979 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3992 1979-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3990 Title: Some aspects of labour costs and earnings: 1974 and 1975 Author: Geoghegan, Brian; Frain, Patrick F. Abstract: Since 1975 the Central Statistics Office has conducted two special surveys concerned with total labour costs — one covering certain parts of the services sector and the other covering the industrial sector. A further survey concerning the earnings of individual workers was also conducted in the same parts of the services sector. These surveys have been taken in compliance with EEC Regulations and fall in the pattern of regular such inquiries carried out on a three year frequency in the EEC since 1966. The Labour Costs surveys are concerned with annual details of all costs specifically associated with labour e.g. those costs normally considered as fringe benefits or social security costs in addition to wages and salaries as well as training costs. The first related to costs in 1974 for Retail and Wholesale distribution, Banks and other Credit enterprises and Insurance Companies while the second related to costs in 1975 for the industrial sector. Description: Read before the Society, 3 May 1979 Mon, 01 Jan 1979 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3990 1979-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3988 Title: Social policy and income adequacy in the Republic of Ireland: the importance of social class and family cycle Author: Rottman, David B.; Hannan, Damian F.; Wiley, Miriam M. Abstract: This paper is intended to stand as part of the growing literature on income distribution in the Republic of Ireland. Specifically, it builds on previous work concerned with the description and analysis of the impact of state taxation and transfer payments on that distribution. The focus, therefore, is on the comparison of direct income with disposable income, the difference reflecting the net effect of state policy. Along with that focus, we share with our predecessors a common data source: the 1973 Household Budget Survey. The use of that source, which is primarily designed to collect data on household expenditure, imposes certain limitations and difficulties, which we share with earlier studies. These will be discussed in the appropriate sections of the paper. Description: Read before the Society, 28 May 1981 Thu, 01 Jan 1981 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3988 1981-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3987 Title: A food and nutritional surveillance system for Ireland Author: Kelly, A.; Kevany, J. Abstract: The need for a national food and nutrition policy is increasingly recognised by governments of developed as well as developing societies. Such policies represent an agreed strategy for the most efficient use of national food resources to meet health, social and economic priorities. Given the inter-relationships between food production, food supply, consumption and health effects, any strategy of this kind must involve several sectors, both public and private. The outcome of such a strategy would be a series of recommendations to be applied through sectoral programmes in order to achieve a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to a set of common goals. Tentative policies have been established by some European governments while discussion of scope and content of policy has been undertaken by others. In Ireland, various public services and institutions have considered the need for such a policy and the health sector has defined a set of recommendations for policy consideration. To date, no multisectoral policy body has been established. However, in the second quarter of 1981, a university-based seminar was conducted to examine the needs and mechanisms for policy making in this area (coordinated by Matthews, 1981). Description: Read before the Society, 29 April 1981 Thu, 01 Jan 1981 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3987 1981-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3986 Title: Company tax - effective tax rates on profits Author: Stewart, J. C. Abstract: Considerable controversy surrounds the measurement of profit in company accounts. Continuous inflation has underlined some of the problems involved. Current accounting practice in the United Kingdom and Ireland also obscures the amount of direct tax that companies pay. Kay and King (1980, p. 193) comment that the "effect of this accounting practice is that many companies, especially in manufacturing industry, show substantial tax charges in their accounts when in fact they are paying little or no tax at all". A similar comment applies to Irish companies as accounting standards in Ireland follow closely those in the United Kingdom. In addition, many features of United Kingdom Finance Acts are incorporated into subsequent Irish Finance Acts. A combination of differing or controversial measures of profit and obscure reporting of tax paid makes the calculation of tax rates on profits for the corporate sector a difficult if not arbitrary process. Description: Read before the Society, 2 April 1981 Thu, 01 Jan 1981 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3986 1981-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3985 Title: The measurement of market concentration in Irish banking Author: Kinsella, R. P. Abstract: This paper analyses the market structure of Irish banking, with particular reference to market concentration. While it is generally recognised that the Irish banking system is relatively highly concentrated there have been few attempts to give empirical precision to this feature. I begin this paper by examining changes in the number of licensed banks since 1960. We next consider what is, perhaps, the most widely used measure of market concentration, the concentration ratio. While useful as a starting point, the concentration ratio has important limitations as a measure of market structure. Hence, we look at measures of relative concentration — that is, measures which take account of changes in output among all licensed banks as opposed to just the largest banks. The Herfindahl-Index, which has been widely used in US studies of market structure in recent years, is discussed in some detail. Measures of inequality with respect to the distribution of output among all banks, including Lorenz curves and the related Gini Coefficient, are also discussed. Finally, changes in bank turnover (that is, changes in rankings over time) and in market shares are examined. The main features of the market structure of Irish banking, as reflected in these various measures, are then summarised. Description: Read before the Society, 12 February 1981 Thu, 01 Jan 1981 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3985 1981-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3984 Title: Co-responsibility and the future of Irish agriculture Author: Sheehy, S. J. Abstract: Since its institution the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been under continuous attack (Fennell, 1973). In recent years the criticism has centred around the budgetary cost of the policy (Hayes, 1979). The cost was growing rapidly up to 1979 when it was threatening to reach the ceiling of the "own resources" system. Associated with this rise in cost the volume of criticism grew amplified in particular by United Kingdom and West German interests. While many proposals for radical reform have been advanced over the years (see, for example, Fennell, 1973, Tracy and Hodac (eds), 1979, and EEC Commission (Com (80) 800), the Community has rejected the need for radical change and has decided to proceed by modifying the existing policy (EEC Commission COM (81) 300). The most important of these modifications are the pursuance of a prudent price policy which entails lowering real prices and the extension of co-responsibility or producer participation in the financing of the policy. Description: Read before the Society, 4 November 1982 Sat, 01 Jan 1983 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3984 1983-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3983 Title: The nature and causes of the farm income problem Author: Attwood, E. A. Abstract: In the current debate on national economic issues, the very grave situation that exists in the agricultural sector has tended to be regarded as of concern only to the farming community. While the impact of the current agricultural difficulties obviously impinges most directly on farmers, it, nevertheless, has most serious consequences for the growth of the economy as a whole, for the level of our balance of payments deficit and for the exchequer position. Description: Read before the Society, 20 May 1982 Fri, 01 Jan 1982 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3983 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3982 Title: The flow of funds 1972-1977 Author: Honohan, Patrick; Dunne, John Abstract: Corresponding to the existence of financial assets there is the phenomenon of saving and dissaving, of financial surpluses and deficits. We may say that whenever an economic agent spends, over a certain period, more than his income on goods and services, he is dissaving and is a net issuer of financial assets: he is accumulating financial liabilities. The questions addressed by a flow of funds analysis are: how much financial saving or dissaving has been undertaken by various classes of agents; and which assets and liabilities have they accumulated over a given period? Description: Read before the Society, 22 April 1982 Fri, 01 Jan 1982 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3982 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3981 Title: Profit sharing for Ireland? Author: Geary, R. C.; Dempsey, M. Abstract: Profit sharing (PS) may be defined as an agreement between an employer and workers to pay a share of the profits or wealth created by the organisation, in addition to wages and direct incentives. It is a recognition of the worker's right to a share in the results of the organisation, just as the right of those who provide the capital. Profit sharing is regarded frequently as a direct incentive to employees, whose extra efforts can increase the profitability of an enterprise; it should not be confused with productivity schemes, however. Description: Read before the Society, 11 March 1982 Fri, 01 Jan 1982 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3981 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z