This chapter sets out a detailed Central Forecast for the Irish Economy for the period to 2003. It is based on the set of assumptions, described in earlier chapters, concerning the external environment, domestic economic policy and basic demographic trends. It represents the authors' best...

The experience of the last five years has been truly exceptional, involving the worst economic crisis in Ireland since the Second World War. The legacy effects of this crisis include a dramatic increase in the indebtedness of the state as well as an exceptionally high level of unemployment. The...