Publication: Case Study 1 - Ireland : Participation in Macroeconomic Policy Making and Reform
Date
2003-03
ISSN
Published
2003-03
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
Since 1987, Ireland has developed five
"social partnership" agreements, with the latest
launched in February 2000 called the "Program for
Prosperity and Fairness"1. This program outlines a
comprehensive set of economic and social objectives
finalized over extensive consultations among the government
and a range of civil society organizations from November
1999 to February 2000. The idea of social partnerships
evolved in the late 80s when Ireland was going through a
tough recession (1980-87), aggravated by high inflation,
heavy public borrowing and deficit, and loss of
manufacturing base. The NESC (National Economic and Social
Council), formed in 1973 to play an advisory role to the
government on "the development of the national economy
and the achievement of social justice", has, since
1986, been facilitating consultations among a range of
social partners to go through a process of shared learning
for an inclusive overview of socioeconomic 'options,
challenges and trade offs'. In 1990, NESC identified
essential elements for a consistent policy framework within
a national strategy as follows: i) macro-economic policy
securing low inflation and steady growth, ii) evolution of
incomes which underpins competitiveness while handling
conflict over distribution, and iii) promotion of structural
change to adapt to changing external environment.
Citation
“World Bank. 2003. Case Study 1 - Ireland : Participation in Macroeconomic Policy
Making and Reform. Social Development Notes; No. 77. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/a212db8e-f99c-5a94-b5b5-47300bfae57b License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”