Social and Economic Aspects of Ireland
5 ECTS credits
This module is designed to inform and enhance the socio-cultural appreciation of Ireland by international learners, and to enable them to use standard economic tools to explore and evaluate fundamental aspects of the Irish economy.
On successful completion of this module learners should be able to:
Discuss the socio-cultural, political and economic dimensions of contemporary Ireland, identifying similarities and contrasts with the learner’s country of origin
Identify the main civilisations, influences and events which have shaped society, politics and the economy of contemporary Ireland
Recognise the complexities of the origins of the conflict in Northern Ireland and the progress made since the 1990’s.
Summarise the use of standard tools used by economists to analyse aspects of a national economy, and state their applicability to aspects of the Irish economy.
Examine Ireland’s participation in economic globalisation
Communicate the key contemporary issues and options in relation to Irish social and economic policy.
Course Content
Social Aspects
Session 1/2
Facts about Ireland: General overview of Ireland including geography, population, flag, language, religion, sports, national identity, exports, celebrities, major current issues.
Session 3
Irish History: from Neolithic times to the Plantations.
Session 4
Irish History: from Rebellion to Modern Ireland.
Session 5
Irish Political System: Social Change and the Irish Constitution.
Session 6/7
Irish Political System: the Oireachtas, the President, Dáil, Seanad, political parties, the Irish electoral system, comparisons with other jurisdictions.
Session 8
Northern Ireland: the social, political, economic and religious origins of the conflict.
Session 9
Northern Ireland: the path to peace, the Belfast Agreement, current situation, Brexit.
Session 10
The Irish Language: origin and antiquity; social and political reasons for decline; efforts at revival; situation today, future predictions.
Economic Aspects
Session 1/2
The Basics of the Economy: Importance of economics; current issues in economics; problems in using GDP/GNP as a measure of economic well-being; alternative measures; circular flow of income; economic policy and goals; business cycle.
Session 3/4
Introduction to the Irish Economy: Brief economic history of Ireland; GDP; unemployment; inflation; fiscal and monetary policy; trade, industrial policy, education.
Session 5
Ireland and Globalisation: Definition of globalisation; Ireland’s experience of globalisation and non-globalisation; benefits and costs for Ireland of economic globalisation.
Session 6
The creation of the Celtic Tiger and the Modern Irish Economy: Pre-Celtic Tiger problems; membership of the EU; radical centrism; government economic policies; adherence to the Maastricht Criteria; tax and industrial policy; social partnership; education policy.
Session 7/8
The Financial Crisis of 2008, Ireland & the recession: Facts about the Celtic Tiger (2007); reasons for the death of the Celtic Tiger: international financial crisis; bank lending; government spending; consumption; regulation of the financial sector; consequences for Ireland. Comparison of economic policy reaction with that of Covid-19.
Session 9
Ireland and the euro: Theory of an optimal currency area; current and prospective euro member states; EMU timetable; benefits and costs of the euro for Ireland.
Session 10
The future of the Irish economy: Challenges and opportunities for the Irish economy. Country risk analysis; trade and industrial policy; climate change; public finances; social issues; households and the labour market; companies, investment and productivity; employment trends and future skills required.
assessment plan
Social Aspects presentation - 15%
Economic Aspects presentation - 15%
Midterm exam combined - 30%
Final exam combined - 40%
Reading Lists and Other Resources
Social aspects
O’Toole, F. We don’t know ourselves, a personal history of Ireland since 1958, Head of Zeus, 2021
Doyle, A. A History of the Irish Language, OUP, 2015
Atlas of Irish History, Gill Books, 3rd ed, Ed. Seán Duffy, 2012
Coakley, J and M Gallagher. Politics in the Republic of Ireland. PSAI Press, 2010
Cleary, J and C Connolly (eds). The Cambridge Companion to Modern Irish Culture. Cambridge University Press, 2005
Moody, TW. and FX Martin. The Course of Irish History. Mercier Press, 2001
Kenneally, C. A New History of Ireland. The History Press, 2008
McMurchaidh, C. Who Needs Irish? Veritas, 2004
Websites
www.irlgov.ie
www.cain.ulst.ac.uk
www.insightonconflict.org
www.irishlanguage.net
www.cso.ie
www.rte.ie
www.ireland.com
Movies
In the Name of the Father, Universal Studios, 1993
The Wind that Shakes the Barley, 20th Fox Studios, 2006
Philomena, Pathé Studios, 2013
The Magdalene Sisters, Momentum Studios, 2002
The Commitments, 20th Fox Studios, 1991
Michael Collins, Warner Bros, 1996
Economic Aspects
Central Bank of Ireland Quarterly Bulletins
Leddin A., & Walsh B. (2013) Macroeconomics, An Irish and European Perspective, Gill & MacMillan, Dublin.
Lewis, M. (2012) "Boomerang", W. W. Norton & Company, New York.
McWilliams, D. (2005) The Pope’s Children: Ireland’s New Elite, Gill & MacMillan, Dublin, 2005;
McWilliams, D. (2007) “The Generation Game”, Gill & MacMillan, Dublin, 2007.
McWilliams, D. (2018) Renaissance Nation, Gill Books;
O’Hagan, J., O’Toole, F. & Whelan, C. (eds) (2021) The Economy of Ireland: Policy Making in a Global Context, Red Globe Press.
Turley, G., O'Toole, F. & Maloney, M. (2006) Principles of economics: an Irish textbook, 3rd edition, Gill & MacMillan.
Websites
bbc.com
cpa.ie
oecd.org
davidmcwilliams.ie
irishindependent.ie
ft.com
esri.ie
centralbank.ie
idaireland.com
guardian.co.uk
cso.ie
rte.ie
ecb.europa.eu
economist.com
irishtimes.com