Introduction The context for this year's Budget differs sharply from most of those in the past decade and a half. The global economy has been buffeted by crises in financial markets. Oil prices, even after recent falls, are at very high levels. Furthermore, the sharp decline in housing activity...

Special Policy Issue: Convergence and Integration of the New Member States to the Euro Area

Contents Introduction Frances Ruane Chapter 1. Tax Reform: Selected Issues Tim Callan, Claire Keane, John R. Walsh 2. The Recession, Budgets, Competition, and Regulation: Should the State Supply Bespoke Protection? Paul K. Gorecki 3. The Future of the EU Budget: Irish Perspectives Alan Matthews

This paper considers the issue of whether the 140,000 people still on the Live Register at a time of boom contained a high proportion of "unemployables". It devises a clear operational definition of employability and, using both national and local data, concludes that the proportion of persons...