Economics

Dan O’Brien: Eurobarometer offers cold comfort to Ireland’s parties in government

Irish people are, surprisingly, more downbeat than many other Europeans about the economy, and there is a danger that excessive pessimism in Ireland will amplify the slowdown, making it deeper than it need otherwise be

The Eurobarometer survey may not ask about support for political parties, usually the most newsworthy aspect of polls, but it takes opinions on many hot political topics

Opinion polls often make headlines. One poll that doesn’t get attention, but should, is the biannual Eurobarometer survey. It may not ask about support for political parties, usually the most newsworthy aspect of polls, but it takes opinions on many hot political topics. It has the added benefit of being taken simultaneously across the EU, allowing national moods in the bloc’s 27 countries to be gauged and compared.

The latest continent-wide poll, which was taken ...