Lessons for Ireland from the Celtic Tiger

Paul Sweeney
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Paul Sweeney: Progressive Economy, TASC, Ireland

No 202509, Working Papers from Geary Institute, University College Dublin

Abstract: This paper expands on a presentation made at the UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy on 4th December 2025 at a seminar entitled ‘Lessons from the Celtic Tiger: What next for Ireland’s Economic Model?’. It represents the author’s unique perspective on the key factors that drove Ireland’s historic Celtic Tiger success, which saw employment double from 1.1 million people in 1987 to 2.2 million by 2007. These drivers include factors that are well rehearsed, such as low corporation tax and the investment of EU structural funds, but they also include a range of other factors that are overlooked in other analysis, such as the role of Social Partnership, education, demographics, communications and transport change, sound fiscal policy, state agencies and commercial state enterprises. Lessons from this analysis are applied to Ireland’s contemporary economic challenges.

Keywords: Economic Policy; Industrial Strategy; Ireland; Celtic Tiger (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 38 pages
Date: 2025-12-17
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