This post uses the latest IMF World Economic Outlook to examine which countries have been affected most by the recession. Looking at 2010-2013 growth rates, it breaks the recession’s impact down into two periods, the initial economic crisis and the subsequent rebound over the past 12 months. It finds that the recent recovery is very broadly based. Read more
This post reviews the (scant) latest information from NAMA’s second tranche. It discusses the problems caused by Anglo’s omission from the figures NAMA gives, before estimating the likely true haircut for the first two tranches. It then calculates the total fall in property values implied by the ever-rising haircuts, before discussing some good news, bad news and neutral news from all this for the taxpayer. Read more
This post reviews the findings in the latest Daft.ie House Price Report, for Q2 2010, finding news for both optimists and pessimists in average prices and the level of transactions. The report’s commentary is by Jim Power, who discusses the need for a property tax. The remainder of the post reviews the arguments in favour of a property tax in Ireland and recommends the introduction of a land value tax. Read more
This post uses the latest CSO data to estimate unemployment rates for each county, by age group and by gender. It also presents to interactive tools, a map and a motion chart, for visualising Ireland’s unemployment crisis. It finds that unemployment is highest among young men & in the Border, Midlands and South-East regions. Read more