EC301 Irish Economy

National University of Ireland, Galway

Semester I 1999/2000

Readings

Readings are arranged by topic: but note that some readings, especially those for topics 1 and 2 are relevant to many other sections of the course as well.

1. Economic performance and policy since 1922:
   • "The Need for a Long-Term Framework for Enterprise Development" Chapter 1 of the Forfás report "Shaping Our Future: a Strategy for Enterprise in Ireland in the 21st Century" (1996).
     Note:
     You can download the full report to your hard disk and read it off-line (see the end of the table of contents of the report).

   • "Economic Review and Outlook 1998" from the Department of Finance
     Note:
     This report is in a format called pdf (portable document format)--- users working in the Library and PC suites in NUI, Galway should not have a problem viewing/saving/this file: those working from home will need to have some free software called Acrobat Reader: it is available from Adobe

2. Perspectives on the nature of markets and the role of the state:
   • "Buchanan on Political Economy: A Review Article" by Agnar Sandmo Journal of Economic Literature Vol. XXVIII (March 1990) pp.50-65.

     You'll need to find this article on JSTOR (This is accessible only from computers on the NUI, Galway campus)

   • "Virtuous and Vicious Cycles in Economic Development" by Anne O. Krueger American Economic Review Vol.83 No.2 (May 1993) pp.351-355.

     You'll need to find this article on JSTOR (This is accessible only from computers on the NUI, Galway campus)

3. Growth, technological change and innovation policy

   • The Myth of Asia's Miracle by Paul Krugman of MIT.

   • What Causes Long Run Growth? The Debate on the Asian Miracle by Nouriel Roubini of New York University and the Council of Economic Advisors, the White House

   • "The Economic Role of (Basic) Science Chapter 1 of the Forfás report "Basic Research Support in Ireland: An evaluation of the Basic Research Grants scheme operated by Forbairt" (1998).

   • Should we pay for science and technology? (Sunday Business Post, August 16th 1998)

4. Labour markets, human capital markets and education policy

   • "Work Organisation, Labour Market Regulation and Long-Term Unemployment" Chapter 7 of the Forfás report "Shaping Our Future: a Strategy for Enterprise in Ireland in the 21st Century"

   • Externalities to Higher Education: a Review of the New Growth Literature by Professor Norman Gemmell Department of Economics University of Nottingham, Report No. 8 of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (a UK report, also known as the Dearing Report).

5. Public finances: policy and institutions

   • Exchequer Returns End June 1998 Commentary

   • Exchequer Returns End June 1998 (Tables of Receipts and Expenditure)

   • Committee on Public Management Research Governance and Accountability in the Irish Civil Service Richard Boyle CPMR Discussion Paper 6 (Word Format)

   • "Reforms in Irish Public Financial Procedures" The most relevant sections in this document are Sections 1 to 3 inclusive.

     Note that the paper was written in 1993, so is a bit dated in places. It is in 'pdf' format, so you may need to download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe web site.

6. Sectoral analyses (the primary sector, manufacturing, services)
   • "The Strategy for Services and Manufacturing" Chapter 4 of the Forfás report "Shaping Our Future: a Strategy for Enterprise in Ireland in the 21st Century"

7. Inequality and poverty

   • Readings to follow, later in the Semester.

8. Economic sovereignty and globalisation

   • Readings to follow, later in the Semester.