Although relative income poverty rates vary from year to year, the rankings of different industrialised countries according to these poverty measures tend to be rather stable. Ireland is consistently among a group of countries with relative income poverty rates considerably above the European...

This paper utilises the SWITCH model to carry out a detailed analysis of recent changes in the tax and welfare systems and to evaluate their effects in the light of policy objectives such as those set out in the National Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. On the...

Three main goals are achieved in this study. Estimates are provided of how strongly the labour supply of Irish married couples is linked to the financial rewards from work, based on best practice techniques from the international literature. Building on these estimates, the study shows how the...

CONTENTS: GENERAL SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 2 MEASURING THE IMPACT OF TAX AND WELFARE CHANGES 3 CHANGES IN POVERTY, ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND TAX BENEFIT POLICY 1987-1994 4 THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF SOCIAL WELFARE 5 WORK INCENTIVES AND THE TAX WELFARE SYSTEM 1987-1994 6 A COMPARATIVE...

Forecasting the Public Finances and the Macroeconomic Context for Budget 2003: by Adele Bergin, David Duffy, John Eakins & Daniel McCoy This first paper outlines the macroeconomic context in which the Budget is set and attempts to discern the appropriate fiscal stance for 2003. The authors see...

This study examines options for the future development of the Irish welfare state, with a view to tackling low income and deprivation more effectively. The structure of Ireland's welfare state is put in international context, and a review of demographic developments and prospects helps to...