Chairman’s Blog | Public Policy, Public Expenditure & GNP | Independent Thinking on Public Policy Issues

in: News and Archive | 24 May 2022

Is Ireland’s Tax System Progressive ?

In his opinion column on 29 September Fintan O’Toole asserts that the claim that Ireland’s tax system is the most progressive is “not true at all. It is, literally not even a half-truth”. Fintan’s view that “The whole claim to having the most progressive tax system depends on ignoring the highly regressive nature of indirect…
in: News and Archive | 26 Mar 2018

Reflections on 6 Years of Public Policy

The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
in: News and Archive | 23 Mar 2018

Underemployed Part-time Workers

Employment increased by almost 70,000 (3.1%) in the year to Q4 2017. Over 115,000 part-time workers would like to work more than they currently do.

29 Jun 2016

€19.1bn or 11.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) was spent on Health in 2014. What are the trends?

The Future Of Water Charges ?
15 Jun 2016

This note sets out the current position in relation to water charges. It also looks at the system of paying for water services in Northern Ireland.
Continue Reading ...
Death of Professor Brendan Walsh
23 May 2016

We were greatly saddened to learn of the sudden death of Professor Brendan Walsh. Brendan joined the Publicpolicy Board when we began in October, 2011 and through his advice and experience made a very valuable contribution to our work. He is a great loss. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Continue Reading ...
Public Spending on Health and Education
20 Apr 2016

Given the age structure of our population, our spending on health looks very high and our spending on education seems low.
Continue Reading ...
Public Finances 1916
23 Mar 2016

Twenty days prior to the Easter Rising, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in London, Mr. Reginald McKenna, presented his Budget for 1916-17. The state of the public finances in Ireland in 1916 is outlined here.
Continue Reading ...
Residential Property Prices 2007 – 2016
9 Mar 2016

Central Bank restrictions on mortgage lending have moderated the rate of increase in house prices which are still substantially below the unsustainable peak levels reached in 2007
Continue Reading ...

Never Again? – Averting Another Crisis
24 May 2016

This Publicpolicy.ie report by a team led by Dr Donal Donovan, former Deputy Director of the IMF, proposes a number of measures to strengthen Ireland’s management of risks.
Continue Reading ...
Better Educated People Enjoy Better Health
4 May 2016

There is a clear link between educational attainment and health; better educated people enjoy better health.
Continue Reading ...
Social Protection Spending in Ireland and the EU 2014
1 Apr 2016

Social protection spending in Ireland (excluding pensions) is the 5th highest in the EU.
Continue Reading ...
Rental Costs Return to Peak Levels in Dublin *
16 Mar 2016

Rents in Dublin have now exceeded the levels reached at the height of the property boom in Q4 2007 by 0.4%. Outside Dublin rents are still 14.5% off peak.
Continue Reading ...
Priorities for the Next Government? European Commission – Country Report Ireland 2016.
3 Mar 2016

This note summarises important observations on the management of the Irish economy in the EU Commission Country Report on Ireland published in February, 2016.
Continue Reading ...