"To be Irish in 2006 is to be living through an unprecedented social experiment" (Holmquist 2006). This statement exemplifies the Irish economic performance in the 1990s. It puts an end to the years of high spending and taxes, an increasing inflation, low growth and soaring unemployment. Since 1993, the GDP averaged 9 percent annually (Mac Sharry et al. 2001 p119). Ireland became one of the few examples of "developed country [ies] with a growth record to match East Asia's" (Mac Sharry et al. 2001 p119). This economic turnaround arose thanks to the "combination of different factors at different times" (Mac Sharry et al. 2001 p119). Indeed, at the political level one can think about the governmental economic policies since 1987, which have strengthened the industrial competitiveness in Ireland to a great extent. Besides, the bargaining with the social partners and the compromise between the two main parliamentary parties played fundamental roles as well. Finally, the success of the Irish integration into the EU and the European Monetary Union constituted a key element to the apparition of the Celtic Tiger.
[...] Ireland's Top Business Website. (Homepage). Hennigan, M. (2004) Ireland's Economic Boom - Not all Roses.[Online.] Available from: < http:> [Accessed 9 April 2006]. Ireland.com- The Irish Times. (Assessment and Recommendations). [Online]. Available from: < http:> [Accessed 11 February 2006]. McSimion, A Riot In Dublin - Celtic Tiger: You reap what you sow [Online]. Available from: < http:> [Accessed 26 April 2006]. Move To Ireland. (Crime in Ireland). [...]
[...] Consequently, other disposal methods have to be introduced (Kirby 2002). Another consequence the boom had on the environment is the growth in the emissions of greenhouse gases which on present trends in 2010 will be twice as high as allowed in the Kyoto Protocol (Kirby 2002). Another serious problem is the eutrophication. This eutrophication results from an excess of phosphorus which in turn is produced (unintentionally) by economic activity (Kirby 2002) Crime The Economist claims in its issue from the 16th of October 2004 that crime and violence are rising. [...]
[...] The plan known as Transport 21 includes the completion of the Dublin Port Tunnel, the development of the Atlantic Corridor[3] and several improvements of the M50, M1 and M3 (Tindall 2005). Anyhow, the enthusiasm about the Transport 21 project is not as infinite as maybe assumed. The Irish Independent reminds its readers that these plan might serve a different propose: the general election is coming up and cynics claim that it is a strategy of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's government to receive a greater number of votes in her favour. [...]
[...] Although most parts of these profits were accumulated to foreign capital (O'Hearn 2003). Fig Wage share of national income, 1987-2000 (percent) Source: Kirby 2002 p156 During the 1990s the Irish labour market became more distinct between core and peripheral jobs. Peripheral jobs are part-time jobs that are low paid and often filled by women, whereas core jobs often are higher paid and filled by men (O'Hearn 1998). Thus, as this segmentation became more and more concentrated, the inequality in income distribution grew (O'Hearn 2003). [...]
[...] The waiting list for social houses is constantly mounting. The government failed to provide a higher amount of them although the demand is soaring. They encouraged home ownership rather than rental accommodation. To a certain extent this is understandable since Ireland is a country with a high degree of house ownership but “one-third of wage earners [were] unable to purchase a house” (Sweeny 1999 p202). What can the government do? It is necessary to expand social and local authority house building programmes. [...]
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