The ratio of unemployment rates and fair employment: a response to Richard Breen

Abstract

In my original critique of the G&B study I addressed three issues. First, the political context within which that study was commissioned, issued and debated. Second, the fact that such a crucial analysis of a highly divisive issue in Northern Ireland was based almost solely on a technical mathematical model that was poorly described and that contained potentially serious misspecifications and errors. Third, the possible reasons why the debate on G&B has generated more heat than light.