IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/iis/dispap/iiisdp417.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

A Survey of Explanations for the Celtic Tiger Boom

Author

Listed:
  • Eoin O'Malley

    (Institute for International Integration Studies, Trinity College Dublin)

Abstract

This paper surveys the literature that attempts to explain what caused the Celtic Tiger boom. The suggested explanations that are covered include fiscal stabilisation, tax cuts, delayed convergence, privatisation and deregulation, strong growth in export markets, supply of labour, education, the single European market, EU structural funds, social partnership, foreign direct investment, the small/regional nature of the economy, Irish indigenous industry and some other explanations. It is argued that some of these suggested explanations are not very convincing or important.

Suggested Citation

  • Eoin O'Malley, 2012. "A Survey of Explanations for the Celtic Tiger Boom," The Institute for International Integration Studies Discussion Paper Series iiisdp417, IIIS.
  • Handle: RePEc:iis:dispap:iiisdp417
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.tcd.ie/triss/assets/PDFs/iiis/iiisdp417.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Conefrey, Thomas & Fitz Gerald, John D., 2011. "The macro-economic impact of changing the rate of corporation tax," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 991-999, May.
    2. Francesco Giavazzi & Marco Pagano, 1990. "Can Severe Fiscal Contractions Be Expansionary? Tales of Two Small European Countries," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1990, Volume 5, pages 75-122, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. McCoy, Daniel & Duffy, David & Bergin, Adele & Eakins, John & MacCoille, C, 2002. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Summer 2002," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20022, June.
    4. Patrick Honohan, 1999. "Fiscal Adjustment and Disinflation in Ireland: Setting the Macro Basis of Economic Recovery and Expansion," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Frank Barry (ed.), Understanding Ireland’s Economic Growth, chapter 4, pages 75-98, Palgrave Macmillan.
    5. Benjamin Powell, 2003. "Economic Freedom and Growth: The Case of the Celtic Tiger," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 22(3), pages 431-448, Winter.
    6. Peter J. Buckley & Frances Ruane, 2010. "Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland: Policy Implications for Emerging Economies," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Foreign Direct Investment, China and the World Economy, chapter 16, pages 365-385, Palgrave Macmillan.
    7. Bergin, Adele & Conefrey, Thomas & FitzGerald, John & Kearney, Ide, 2009. "The Behaviour of the Irish Economy: Insights from the HERMES Macro-Economic Model," Papers WP287, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    8. Brendan M. Walsh & Anthony J. Leddin, 1997. "Economic stabilisation, recovery and growth : Ireland 1979-96," Open Access publications 10197/1557, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    9. Patrick Honohan & Brendan Walsh, 2002. "Catching Up with the Leaders: The Irish Hare," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 33(1), pages 1-78.
    10. Bergin, Adele & Cullen, Joe & Duffy, David & FitzGerald, John & Kearney, Ide & McCoy, Daniel, 2003. "Medium-Term Review 2003-2010, No. 9," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number MTR09, June.
    11. Bradley, John & Whelan, Karl, 1997. "The Irish expansionary fiscal contraction: A tale from one small European economy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 175-201, April.
    12. Barrett, Alan & Kearney, Ide & McCarthy, Yvonne, 2006. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Winter 2006," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20064, June.
    13. John Romalis, 2007. "Capital Taxes, Trade Costs, and the Irish Miracle," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 5(2-3), pages 459-469, 04-05.
    14. McGuinness, Seamus & Kelly, Elish & O'Connell, Philip J., 2008. "The Impact of Wage Bargaining Regime on Firm-Level Competitiveness and Wage Inequality: The Case of Ireland," Papers WP266, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    15. McCoy, Daniel & Duffy, David & Hore, Jonathan & MacCoille, C, 2002. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Spring 2002," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20021, June.
    16. Frank Barry, 2000. "Convergence is not Automatic: Lessons from Ireland for Central and Eastern Europe," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(10), pages 1379-1394, October.
    17. Charles Edquist & Leif Hommen (ed.), 2008. "Small Country Innovation Systems," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 3981.
    18. Frank Barry & Aoife Hannan & Eric Strobl, 1999. "The Real Convergence of the Irish Economy and the Sectoral Distribution of Employment Growth," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Frank Barry (ed.), Understanding Ireland’s Economic Growth, chapter 1, pages 13-24, Palgrave Macmillan.
    19. McCoy, Daniel & Duffy, David & Bergin, Adele & Cullen, Joseph, 2002. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Winter 2002," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20024, June.
    20. Frank Barry & Michael B. Devereux, 2006. "A Theoretical Growth Model for Ireland," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 37(2), pages 245-262.
    21. David E. Bloom & David Canning, 2003. "Contraception and the Celtic Tiger," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 34(3), pages 229-247.
    22. Baker, Terence J. & Duffy, David & Shortall, Fergal, 1998. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, April 1998," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC19981, June.
    23. Barrett, Alan & Kearney, Ide & Garrett, Shane & McCarthy, Yvonne, 2005. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Winter 2005," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20054, June.
    24. Barry, Frank, 2009. "Social Partnership, Competitiveness and Exit from Fiscal Crisis," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 40(1), pages 1-14.
    25. Duffy, David & FitzGerald, John & Kearney, Ide & Shortall, Fergal, 1997. "Medium-Term Review 1997-2003, No. 6," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number MTR06, June.
    26. McCoy, Daniel & Duffy, David & Bergin, Adele & Garrett, Shane & McCarthy, Yvonne, 2004. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Winter 2004," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20044, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. FitzGerald, John & Kearney, Ide & Bergin, Adele & Conefrey, Thomas & Duffy, David & Timoney, Kevin & Znuderl, Nusa, 2013. "Medium-Term Review: 2013-2020, No. 12," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number MTR12, June.
    2. Sebastian Dellepiane & Niamh Hardiman, 2011. "Governing the Irish Economy: A Triple Crisis," Working Papers 201103, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    3. Bergin, Adele & Duffy, David & Eakins, John & McCoy, Daniel, 2002. "Forecasting the Public Finances and the Macroeconomic Context for Budget 2003," Papers BP2003/1, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    4. repec:esr:chaptr:jacb200210 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Anthony J. Evans, 2011. "The Irish Economic ‘Miracle’: Celtic Tiger or Bengal Kitten?," Chapters, in: David Howden (ed.), Institutions in Crisis, chapter 3, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Niamh Hardiman, 2013. "Rethinking the political economy of fiscal consolidation in two recessions in Ireland," Working Papers 201316, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    7. Morgenroth, Edgar & FitzGerald, John & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Summary and Conclusions," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, chapter 24, pages 317-333, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
      • Baker, Terence J. & FitzGerald, John & Honohan, Patrick & FitzGerald, John & Honohan, Patrick, 1996. "Summary and Conclusions," Book Chapters, in: Baker, Terence J. (ed.),Economic Implications for Ireland of EMU, chapter 12, pages 339-352, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    8. Jerome Creel, 1998. "L'assainissement budgétaire au Danemark entre 1983 et 1986 : l'anti-mythe (in French)," Documents de Travail de l'OFCE 1998-02, Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE).
    9. Luca Agnello & Ricardo M. Sousa, 2013. "Fiscal Policy And Asset Prices," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(2), pages 154-177, April.
    10. Sebastian Dellepiane & Niamh Hardiman, 2012. "Fiscal Politics In Time: Pathways to Fiscal Consolidation, 1980-2012," Working Papers 201228, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    11. Sebastian Hauptmeier & Martin Heipertz & Ludger Schuknecht, 2007. "Expenditure Reform in Industrialised Countries: A Case-Study Approach," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 28(3), pages 293-342, September.
    12. Paul Teague, 2009. "Developing Ireland: Committing to Economic Openness and Building Domestic Institutional Capabilities," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2009-24, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    13. Klein, Paul & Ventura, Gustavo, 2021. "Taxation, expenditures and the Irish miracle," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 1062-1077.
    14. Philip R. Lane, 2003. "Business Cycles and Macroeconomic Policy in Emerging Market Economies," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(1), pages 89-108, March.
    15. Morgenroth, Edgar & FitzGerald, John & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Productive Sector," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, chapter 20, pages 257-277, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    16. Constantin Gurdgiev & Brian M. Lucey & Ciarán Mac an Bhaird & Lorcan Roche-Kelly, 2011. "The Irish Economy: Three Strikes and You’re Out?," Panoeconomicus, Savez ekonomista Vojvodine, Novi Sad, Serbia, vol. 58(1), pages 19-41, March.
    17. Seamus McGuinness & Frances McGinnity & Philip J. O'Connell, 2009. "Changing Returns to Education During a Boom? The Case of Ireland," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 23(s1), pages 197-221, March.
    18. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/1769 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Cormac Ó Gráda, 2002. "Is the Celtic Tiger a Paper Tiger?," Working Papers 200202, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    20. Jérôme Creel & Bruno Ducoudré & Catherine Mathieu & Henri Sterdyniak, 2005. "Doit-on oublier la politique budgétaire ?. Une analyse critique de la nouvelle théorie anti-keynésienne des finances publiques," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 92(1), pages 43-97.
    21. Brendan M. Walsh, 2003. "Taxation and foreign direct investment in Ireland," Open Access publications 10197/1602, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    22. Hjelm, Goran, 2002. " Effects of Fiscal Contractions: The Importance of Preceding Exchange Rate Movements," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 104(3), pages 423-441, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic growth; Celtic tiger; Ireland; regional economies; Europe; convergence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity
    • O5 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:iis:dispap:iiisdp417. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Maeve (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cetcdie.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.