Aidan Regan: Now is the time to rethink the state’s role in our economy
Easier access to borrowing on bond markets, a lower than expected budget deficit and rising property prices offer opportunities to expand universal public services and reshape Ireland Inc
There were three events last week that revealed a lot about the nature of the Irish economy, the politics of public financing, and the future of electoral conflict. They set the stage for a discursive battle over what economic ideas inform public policy, and how the public finances should be used for the next few years.
First, the Irish state raised more than €5.5 billion by issuing 10-year bonds at fixed negative real interest rates ...