The impact of the war upon Irish economy

Abstract

The European war has given rise to many speculations, generally vague but almost always gloomy, upon its probable effects on Irish economic life. It is certain that the war has already brought about changes in our trade; but with the discontinuance of the publication of many statistics it is now impossible to estimate exactly their degree or trend. A far greater degree of speculation is introduced by the uncertainty of the future course of the war. Obviously it must affect our position greatly if the more powerful neutrals are drawn into it. It must affect us also if it becomes impossible to transport raw materials; or if the demands of belligerents become so great that even our modest needs cannot be granted. It will affect us even more greatly if the internal transport of our only market were to be dislocated.

The trend of our taxation, our unemployment policy, our housing policy, of our production and standard of living both during and after the war must depend upon the determination of these issues.