Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Worst of times, best of times: tale of two Irelands
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Email
Print
Reprints
Full Focus
Editor's choice
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Full Article
Read
Teenage boys survive 50 days adrift in South Pacific
25 Nov 2010
North Korean leader and son visited artillery site: reports
|
25 Nov 2010
Korean peninsula on brink of war due to drills: North Korea
25 Nov 2010
North Korea says U.S.-South Korea exercises bring war closer
|
2:31am EST
Exclusive: Corruption charges to feature in WikiLeaks release
24 Nov 2010
Discussed
197
Obama’s Democrats in disarray over expiring tax cuts
100
Obama’s 2012 re-election prospects uncertain: poll
69
Wesley Snipes ordered to prison for tax conviction
Watched
Bejeweled bra exposed in NY
Thu, Oct 21 2010
Row over vote orgasm video
Fri, Nov 19 2010
High tech shopping with apps
Wed, Nov 24 2010
Green Business
Investors hope climate deal on track
Investors in "green" assets hope that upcoming U.N. climate talks in Mexico will salvage a deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in 2011, and in the meantime widen and simplify existing carbon markets. Full Article
Copenhagen Accord: Climate guide or too weak?
Japan: Extending Kyoto "meaningless"
Worst of times, best of times: tale of two Irelands
Tweet This
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
By Peter Graff
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Country A is drowning. A catastrophic recession has thrown a tenth of its workforce out of jobs in just two years. Firms are shutting, banks are barely solvent and the IMF has been called in to bail out the...
Related News
Timeline: Ireland unveils new austerity plan
Thu, Nov 25 2010
Ireland set for majority stakes in top banks
Thu, Nov 25 2010
UPDATE 3-Ireland set for majority stakes in top banks
Wed, Nov 24 2010
WRAPUP 6-EU urges feuding Irish not to delay budget
Tue, Nov 23 2010
Q+A: How will Ireland's bailout work?
Mon, Nov 22 2010
Related Topics
World »
A pedestrian walks past a sign outside a cafe displaying a menu relating to the current economic climate, in Dublin November 23, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Cathal McNaughton
By Peter Graff
DUBLIN |
Thu Nov 25, 2010 8:12pm EST
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Country A is drowning. A catastrophic recession has thrown a tenth of its workforce out of jobs in just two years. Firms are shutting, banks are barely solvent and the IMF has been called in to bail out the government from crushing debt. The standard of living is eroding, taxes are being hiked, state spending is being slashed, and the deeply unpopular government is being forced into an election it is certain to lose.
Country B has a huge and growing trade surplus. It is attracting a flood of international investment from global firms, building thriving hi-tech export industries. Exports grew this year by 6 percent and now amount to more than $50,000 per person. Taxes are low and staying low, and the English-speaking population is highly skilled.
Both countries are Ireland. And therein lies a tale, or rather two tales: of a domestic economy that is in tatters, side by side with a global export economy in the rudest of health.
In some respects, the success of Ireland's export economy obscures just how thoroughly ruined its domestic economy has been by the bursting of its property bubble in 2008.
Whole industries have completely vanished in a matter of months. Since government revenue depends mainly on domestic economic activity, the sudden fall in output has blown apart what were once exemplary public finances.
Once again, the Irish are leaving an island that seems unable to support them, a particularly resonant omen in a country that had finally reversed centuries of emigration.
But while all that misery has piled up, Ireland's "Celtic tiger" export economy has quietly continued purring.
TRANSFORMED
The story has been often told of how Ireland was transformed in the 1990s from one of the poorest countries in Europe to one of the richest by attracting exporters, especially American firms who turned it into their base for European operations.
U.S. firms have invested more in Ireland than in Brazil, China, India and Russia combined, says Joanne Richardson, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce.
The clout of those businesses was on display on Thursday when Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, fresh from announcing 15 billion euros in spending cuts and domestic tax rises, addressed the American Chamber of Commerce's annual Thanksgiving lunch.
In between the pork and pheasant terrine and the roast turkey, he reassured a ballroom full of U.S. business chiefs that Ireland's 12.5 percent corporate tax rate was untouchable.
That tax rate, far lower than in the other countries of Western Europe, has been Ireland's calling card in competing for international investment. It infuriates European neighbors that are now funding Ireland's bailout and think it competes unfairly with their higher rates, but it remains popular in Ireland.
Ireland's main political parties are committed to keeping it, and even argue with each other over who will do a better job defending the low rate from outside meddlers that want it hiked.
With growth slowing in the United States and Europe, Barry O'Leary, head of Ireland's investment promotion agency IDA, has his eyes on attracting investment from Asia. The IDA has opened offices in Mumbai, Shanghai, Moscow and Sao Paolo, and is opening new ones in Shenzen, Singapore and Bangalore.
1
2
Next
World
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Friday, 26 November 2010 Afghan prosecutor summons vote officials over fraud
Merkel seeks to soothe markets on eurozone
US-TECH Summary
Russia plans more foreign naval bases
Brazil Marines join slum battles, 30 people killed
|
Wealthy Americans say: 'Tax us' to ease deficit'
Afghanistan arrests 2 election workers
Putin, Merkel trade barbs ahead of talks in Germany
|
Chevy Volt tops Prius in fuel economy rating
British students clash with police at second fees protest
U.N. warns Ivorian candidates against victory claims
|
Fuel Tank Cracks Delay Final Shuttle Launch To Dec. 17
Oakley Capital buys into Time Out for online growth
First Family To Put On Spread For T-Day
Haiti heads for elections, police keep marches apart
|
Many Cancers Still Being Found Too Late
Afghan settlement would leave no room for al Qaeda-Pakistan
|
Epilepsy Drugs Safe For Breast Feeding Moms
Obama Anticipates Political Struggles After Thanksgiving
Search for Air France crash black box revived
|
Elderly Vet Charged With Threatening Obama
Italian students storm Tower of Pisa, Colosseum
|
Poll: Rahm Emanuel Leads Crowded Chicago Mayor Race
Adrien Brody Wins Legal Battle Against Film's Producers
Search For Missing Dance Student Continues In Syracuse
Poorest countries stuck in boom/bust cycle: U.N.
|
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay Convicted Of Money Laundering
Fans mark 40 years since far-right Japanese author's suicide
Cambodia holds day of mourning for stampede dead
South Korea defence minister quits after attack
Hong Kong Picasso sale aims to tap China demand
Shanghai suffers 'poor air quality' as Expo ends
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Jamal flops as Pakistan win Asiad hockey title
Billy Joel recovering from double hip replacement
Second Indian 'child sacrifice' murder claim
Warner Bros. trademarks "Quidditch" lingerie
Presenter Ross joins forces with Big Brother team
Indonesia selects new anti-corruption chief
Chevy Volt tops Prius in fuel economy rating
|
Disney animators faced knotty problem with 'Tangled'
Afghan and Pakistan agree on coordinated anti-drug raids
Billy Joel recovering from double hip replacement
|
British intelligence promoted Taliban impostor: report
Turkey stresses commitment to normalising ties with Armenia
Openness to virtual operators key in 4G mobile: France
North Korea says U.S.-South Korea exercises bring war closer
|
Maliki named Iraq PM for second term, urges unity
600,000 die each year from passive smoking: study
Irish bailout talks accelerate as PM faces new setback
Egypt detains 156 protestors over church riots
Europe bans baby bottles with Bisphenol-A
Teenage boys survive 50 days adrift in South Pacific
|
U.N. warns Ivorian candidates against victory claims
|
Election flap heats up in Afghanistan
India to widen probe into bribery scandal: report
|
US presence in Afghanistan as long as Soviet slog
Australia's Gillard ends troubled year on a high
|
India marks two years since the Mumbai attacks
Worst of times, best of times: tale of two Irelands
|
U.S. briefs allies on new documents leak
Teenagers adrift in Pacific for 50 days reach land
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
In gaffe, Palin supports 'our North Korean allies'
Kanye West, Kung Fu Panda to star at NYC parade
Dutch prostitutes learn new tricks
Storms, not airport security, slow holiday travel
Frenchwomen protest violence by wearing skirts
Seoul shares fall; caution before military drill
Jewish rapper Shyne takes Orthodox path back to stardom
Sanctions-hit Fiji hikes consumer tax to repay debt
Japan's frilly 'maids' go grey
17th century shipwreck found in Sweden
New Australia phone app aims to fight skin cancer
|
S.Korean won down 2.2 pct for wk on N.Korea worries
Bailed-out Bank of Ireland flogs off art collection
Pakistani c.bank sells 25 bln rupees of t-bills
Pakistan
Petronas Chemicals raises $4.1 bln in IPO
Japan consumer prices slide further
S.Korea bonds gain on smaller Dec issuance plan
Japan's October core consumer prices fall 0.6 percent
Seoul shares open up as techs, shipyards gain
New Australia phone app aims to fight skin cancer
EU says not pressing Portugal to take bail out
Voters hammer Irish government
|
Spain's Zapatero 'absolutely' rules out bailout
Spain, Portugal fight fear of Irish contagion
Collahuasi mine strikers set to shun latest offer
|
Portugal: under no eurozone pressure for financial aid
U.S. Calls India Great Partner, Natural Ally In Defense Matters
Fed-Ex Searching For Missing Radioactive Package
Whole Foods Announces Cheese Recall
Consortium Buys Pet Food Giant For $4 Billion
Study: Jet Lag May Lead To Memory Problems
Disappearance Of Dance Student Marks First Week
U.S. Mulls Changes On Color-Coded Terror Alert System
US warns Israel of WikiLeaks release
India agency probing other insurers in bribery scandal: source
|
Georgia Teens Murdered On Thanksgiving
U.S. Adds Islamic Charity To Terror Black List Over Its Links To LeT
Kenya seeks sites for nuclear power plant
|
Second Christian dies of wounds after Egypt riots
|
Pope Benedict to visit Benin in 2011
|
Asiad best for China as Bangladesh win cricket
Impostor deepens confusion over Afghan peace talks
|
India flays Pakistan on Mumbai attacks anniversary
India probes 21 companies in bribes-for-loans scandal
Nigeria court sacks state governor in blow to PDP
|
N.Korea stages artillery drill, warns of war
Indonesia's GDP will hit $1 trillion in 2014: Govt
Black Eyed Peas to play coveted Super Bowl slot
Q+A-Pakistan's central bank grapples with inflation, low growth
Malaysian opposition faces crunch time in party congress
Author Murakami took four years to agree to film
Taiwan c.bank to strengthen fund flow monitoring
Cambodia to hold festival next year despite stampede
Boy's toys the new frontier for erotica industry
Australian cricketers fight back in Ashes opener
Korean pop star Rain to sing at closing ceremony
Cambodia to boost rice spending, eyes 7 pct 2011 growth
Murakami took 4 years to approve 'Norwegian Wood'
Spice up English, with Chinese
Armani taps Chinese market with online store
Director: Murakami took 4 years to approve movie
Smartphones, Twitter top Japan hit product survey
|
Toyota suffers second straight output fall in October
Pirate Bay activists lose court appeal in Sweden
|
Indian police widen real estate bribery probe
Sony to return to Japan e-reader market in December
|
Investigators: Unlicensed Hospital Lett Swedish Woman In Coma After Botched Surgery
First Family To Put On Spread For T-Day
Black Eyed Peas to play coveted Super Bowl slot
|
Norwegian Wood director Tran cuts through language barrier
|
Auction houses eye Russian recovery ahead of sales
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights