The Celtic Tiger’s lessons on economic and political development

Ireland’s remarkable economic growth during the last decades, following its successful peace treaties, has caught the attention of countries with ongoing internal conflicts, such as Colombia. The Irish case’s analysis must enable the extraction of valuable lessons regarding how –apart from solving the internal conflict– to define and execute the national development strategies. Ireland’s case illustrates how an excessive dependence on exports as well as an inadequate management of public finances can lead to crises that cast a shadow on other accomplishments. The highlight of this case study is realizing that by having the different economic agents and stakeholders –Academia, Government, Corporate– working together in a coordinate fashion a thorough economic transformation can be achieved, and that privileging social and education policies assures economic profit and growth.