We use mean-variance analysis to demonstrate the importance of a hitherto neglected benefit of enticing MNEs to locate in small and medium-sized countries. During the 25 years from 1974 to 1999, over 1000 foreign MNEs have located in Ireland, and they have raised their share of all manufacturing...

TWe undertake a first benchmark study of economic literacy in Ireland using a panel of 700+ adults to assess the economic knowledge of respondents. Sources of economic information are analysed and ranked in order of usefulness. Accuracy of response in each section is analysed across each...

Political independence is usually associated with an attempt to reduce economic dependency on the dominant or former colonial power. For most of the early period since Irish independence the attempt to reduce exposure to the UK was implemented through tariff protection and restrictions on...

Ireland's net external liability position expanded in dramatic fashion during 2008-2010, despite relatively small net financial flows during this period. Understanding the the source and persistence of this negative shock is critically important in assessing the future path for the Irish...

Over the period 2005-2020, the Irish agri-food sector is confronted with three major policy changes: the decoupling of the single farm payment, the elimination of the dairy quota and potential multilateral trade liberalisation as part of an agreement in the Doha Development Round. This paper...

The rise of immigration into Ireland has been accompanied by a debate on the potential objectives of immigration policy. This paper beings with a survey of international and historical evidence on the economics of immigration policy. To place Irish immigration in the international context, a...

This paper examines how foreign plants may impact on the averages wages paid by domestic plants within a host economy. The analysis, building on Aitken, Harrison and Lipsey (1996), is based on plant level panel data for the Irish manufacturing industry during the 1990s. We find that respective...

Globalisation and international integration can yield efficiency gains through the promotion of competition and trade in markets for internationally traded goods. At the firm level, exposure to competitive pressures has created a necessity for firms to operate as close as possible to the...

There is increasing growth in export platform foreign direct investment (EPFDI) globally, reflecting both the international fragmentation of production associated with globalisation and the adoption of policies to promote this type of investment as part of the “export led growth” strategies...

The preholiday behaviour of equity price and return indices on the Irish Stock Exchange do nor display consistent positive pre-holiday returns. This is contrary to the majority of studies on this area, and the result is found across a number of sectoral indices. The analysis also indicates that...