OECD Economic Surveys Ireland Volume 2008 Issue 5 Author:oecd publishing This 2008 edition of OECD's periodic survey of the Irish economy finds that it has performanced remarkably well over the past decade, propelling per capita income to above the OECD average. Economic fundamentals remain strong, but economic activity is now easing. The survey examines some of the key challenges Ireland now faces including maintai... more »ning growth, the housing market slowdown, financial stability, adapting government spending to slower revenue growth, reforming the pension system, and integrating migrants.Table of Content :Executive Summary
Assessment and Recommendations
Chapter 1. Key Challenges
-Short-Term Economic Adjustment
-Sustaining Robust Long-Term Growth
-Policies to Underpin Growth
-Setting Policies to Underpin Stability and Sustainability
Chapter 2. The Housing Market Cycle has Turned
-The Housing Market Slowdown
-The Sharp Fall in Residential Construction
-The Macroeconomic Impact of the Housing Market Cycle
-More Efficient Policies towards Housing
Chapter 3. Financial Stability: Banking on Prudence
-Containing Risks to the Financial System
-Policy Issues and Responses
-Conclusion
Chapter 4. Adapting Government Spending to Lower Revenue Growth
-Tax Revenues are Less Robust
-Government Spending is Likely to Slow
-Fiscal Performance has Remained Sound but is Weakening
-Additional Resources Should be Used Effectively
-Improving Public Sector Management
-Public-Private Partnerships
-Conclusion: Fiscal policy Must Adapt to a More Challenging Environment
Chapter 5. Setting the Pension System on The Right Track
-The Basic State Pension is the Foundation of the System
-Public Sector Pensions Will Become Increasingly Costly
-Private Pension Saving Needs to Increase
-Options for Pension Reform
Chapter 6. Integrating Migrants: Learning from OECD Experience
-Migration Trends
-The Policy Approach and Recent Reforms
-The Economic Impacts of Migration
-Policy Challenges
-Annex 6.A1. Do fast-Growing Economies Attract More Migrants?