ESRI report demolishes left-wing claims.

[freedomlover]

A new report by ESRI on social changes in the Celtic Tiger era demolishes virtually all claims made by left-wing politicians and commentators regarding the supposed social cost of the economic policies pursued during the Celtic Tiger era. A summary of the report is given in today's Irish Times (link below).

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontp ... 52184.html

The main points in the Irish Times summary are as follows:

• The economic boom of the past decade has transformed Ireland and delivered far more social gains than losses, major new research by the Economic and Social Research Institute has concluded.

•It says the "gloomy view" of the social consequences of prosperity - such as greater social inequality, looser community ties and a rise in materialism - is not supported by evidence. Instead, it says the social impact of economic progress has been broadly positive, resulting in a decline in poverty rates, increased social mobility and improvements in the health of the nation.

• Growth in real incomes and living standards have been dramatic, with even those at the bottom of the income ladder better off than they used to be.

• It also points to a high level of satisfaction and social integration in suburban neighbourhoods, in contrast to negative depictions of the suburbs as soulless and lacking amenities.

• Social mobility has increased as more people from modest backgrounds ascend into white-collar occupations.

• Poverty and deprivation rates have declined.

• The stresses of too much work and of juggling job and family life are less socially damaging than the stresses of too little work.

• Social support networks and attachments to communities remain strong. The image of masses of people lost and isolated in anonymous housing estates is belied by how settled and at home people feel in the new suburbs.

• People are marrying and having children at a higher rate than 15 years ago.

• National morale is among the highest in Europe.

[drbob1972]

certainly lends credence to why the left did poorly in the last GE

[eurocrat]

I have saying all this stuff for years and am delighted that now it is getting some coverage. The 2006 OECD report said much of the same regarding the increases in income for various social groups. Things are no where near as bad as some would like it to be.

[Nordy_Trinnerhead]

I really genuinly hate all these sandal wearing Liberals constantly yapping on that this generation has lost its soul. Speaking as a sandal wearing Liberal, I'm proud to be living in ireland today, a country which has far more opportunities and greater social improvement than it once had.

[Tubber25]

There is no denying the fact that in pure economic terms we have excelled in the past 15years, with employment reduced to 4/5% it was inevitable that this would have a positive effect on society.

I think time will tell what damage the rapid growth has done to our society, we just have to look at issues around drug and alcohol abuse, obesity, suicide and mental illness. The poor spatial planning is definitly having a negative affect on families and communities, the cost of housing and childcare are putting severe pressures on many people. Have a look at the figures issued by the CSO yesterday on communting and modal usage for journeys to school and work.

The above statements about communities and suburbs are questionable, most young families in this country are unable to buy houses close to their family or where they grew up, weakening traditional support systems.

These kind of studies that come to the conclusion that economic growth impoves social well-being have been proven to be suspect. Rising income levels dosn't necessary make people happy, except for those in poverty, as the law of diminishing marginal returns points out that as incomes rise, income/economic factors become less important that welfare/social issues.

It is improved levels of income equality that create better results, as psychologial wellbeing is shown to depend on the amont of ones income relative to the income of others.

There is no mention what so ever of the huge environment damage created by uncontrolled and regulated economic growth in Ireland in recent years. How can the ESRI do a economic and social study without inclusing the environment in which we live in?

[Thac0man]

certainly lends credence to why the left did poorly in the last GE

I have a Swiss friend who dated a 'revolutionary socilaist' from Liverpool. After he want with her to Switzerland, they broke up because he could find nothing to complain about and got depressed.

Trying to convince people they are miserable is never a vote winner.

[Tubber25]

Trying to convince people they are miserable is never a vote winner.

By developing critical consciousness, people can interpret and criticize Irish society without beliefs, whether from the right or left being imposed upon them. Most people arn't miserable but the huge levels of mental illness and psychological disorders in affluent western societies that the mixed messages people are recieving in consumer capitalist societies point to underlying problems.

[Thac0man]

By developing critical consciousness, people can interpret and criticize Irish society without beliefs, whether from the right or left being imposed upon them. Most people arn't miserable but the huge levels of mental illness and psychological disorders in affluent western societies that the mixed messages people are recieving in consumer capitalist societies point to underlying problems.

Well your not getting elected anytime soon

[qtman]

I really genuinly hate all these sandal wearing Liberals constantly yapping on that this generation has lost its soul. Speaking as a sandal wearing Liberal, I'm proud to be living in ireland today, a country which has far more opportunities and greater social improvement than it once had.

Is it permissible to glean from your username that you are studying Law in Trinity?

[Tubber25]

By developing critical consciousness, people can interpret and criticize Irish society without beliefs, whether from the right or left being imposed upon them. Most people arn't miserable but the huge levels of mental illness and psychological disorders in affluent western societies that the mixed messages people are recieving in consumer capitalist societies point to underlying problems.

Well your not getting elected anytime soon

People have to draw their own conclusion what's important, no point in preaching!

human needs and those promulgated by consumerism and capitalism are not the same.