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Independent Ireland in Comparative Perspective

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  • Kevin Hjortshøj O’Rourke

Abstract

This paper surveys independent Ireland's economic policies and performance. It has three main messages. First, the economic history of post-independence Ireland was not particularly unusual. Very often, things that were happening in Ireland were happening elsewhere as well. Second, for a long time we were hampered by an excessive dependence on a poorly performing UK economy. And third, EC membership in 1973, and the Single Market programme of the late 1980s and early 1990s, were absolutely crucial for us. Irish independence and EU membership have complemented each other, rather than being in conflict: each was required to give full effect to the other. Irish independence would not have worked as well for us as it did without the EU; and the EU would not have worked as well for us as it did without political independence.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Hjortshøj O’Rourke, 2017. "Independent Ireland in Comparative Perspective," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _150, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:esohwp:_150
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    File URL: https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:5948af1e-e560-46ff-a9b6-b8232c8e1ef7
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    Keywords

    Ireland; economic history; trade policies; growth; Brexit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N14 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N74 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: 1913-

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