A Rocky Road: The Irish Economy Since the 1920s

Cormac Ó Grd̀a

Manchester University Press, 1997 - Business & Economics - 246 pages

Most Irish historians agree that the southern Irish economy performed very badly between the 1920 and the early 1960s; indeed output and incomes had grown so little in those decades that the economic benefits of political independence were far from obvious. There is less consensus about economic performance since then, though the ability of the South to sustain a significant population increase for the first time since the Great Famine may reflect relative success. This volume critically re-examines the claims and counter-claims using new data and adopting a comparative perspective, pro-viding a comprehensive narrative for an Irish as well as a wider audience. Assuming only a basic understanding of economic and statistical theory, the volume has been written mainly with an undergraduate audience in mind. However, in its use of new archival evidence in the analysis of policy-making it will also appeal to political scientists and historians.

Contents

• Off to the Front in the economic war Dublin Opinion: 1
• Shes a wholehearted supporter of Fianna Fail Dublin: 8
• Irish economic policy since the 1920s: 41
• The ladys not for burning Dublin Opinion April 1950: 61
• Poverty employment and institutions: 86
• Industry and industrial policy: 108
• There must be no government interference in business: 114
• Agriculture: 144
• Onetime prosperous grazier Dublin Opinion 1934: 147
• The Service sector: 167
• Demographic trends: 192
• Reprise: 224
• Select bibliography: 235
• Index: 243

About the author

Cormac OGrada is professor of economics at University College Dublin. His books include "Jewish Ireland in the Age of Joyce" (Princeton), "Black '47 and Beyond: The Great Irish Famine in History, Economy, and Memory" (Princeton), and "Ireland: A New Economic History, 1780-1939.

Bibliographic information

• Title: A Rocky Road: The Irish Economy Since the 1920s; Insights from Economic History Series
• Author: Cormac Ó Grd̀a
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Manchester University Press, 1997
• ISBN: 0719045843, 9780719045844
• Length: 246 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / Economic History