Emigration - Go if things recover elsewhere?

[Ekbalco]

Speaking as one who will be joining the ever increasing dole queues, if as expected An Bord Snip Nua tell the government the civil service have to chopped drastically I wonder if anyone else has been thinking of doing the same?. Maybe I'm wrong but I suspect we'll be the very last place where the recovery decides to land. So if things get better abroad is any else going to leave behind the mess here??

[reknaw]

Speaking as one who will be joining the ever increasing dole queues, if as expected An Bord Snip Nua tell the government the civil service have to chopped drastically I wonder if anyone else has been thinking of doing the same?. Maybe I'm wrong but I suspect we'll be the very last place where the recovery decides to land. So if things get better abroad is any else going to leave behind the mess here??

You have my sympathy.

A lot of people will face a difficult choice: if things are picking up abroad to the extent that Irish people have a good chance of finding employment there, might it not mean also that things are likely to pick up here as well, given that we are so subject to the ups and downs of the global economy?

In that case, better to hang on as long as possible, unless you really believe that living abroad for a while could be an enriching experience. But changing countries is a big jolt (I speak from experience) and many would prefer to stay in familiar surroundings with family and friends.

Besides, this present recession might have a silver lining somewhere within its dark cloud if it shocks people into a realisation of all the opportunities relating to quality-of-life matters that were wasted during the Celtic Tiger period and the people finally cop on and demand better governance.

[Wendy]

You have my sympathy.

A lot of people will face a difficult choice: if things are picking up abroad to the extent that Irish people have a good chance of finding employment there, might it not mean also that things are likely to pick up here as well, given that we are so subject to the ups and downs of the global economy?

In that case, better to hang on as long as possible, unless you really believe that living abroad for a while could be an enriching experience. But changing countries is a big jolt (I speak from experience) and many would prefer to stay in familiar surroundings with family and friends.

Besides, this present recession might have a silver lining somewhere within its dark cloud if it shocks people into a realisation of all the opportunities relating to quality-of-life matters that were wasted during the Celtic Tiger period and the people finally cop on and demand better governance.

So far we're seeing:

• inflated salaries dropping
• house prices falling from their embarrassing highs
• conspicuous consumption curtailed
• restaurants and supermarkets offering deals
• the so-called obesity epidemic put on hold
• traffic congestion reduced (or so I hope)

A recession was the only way to fix Rip-off Ireland?

[Ekbalco]

I would agree that things will pick up here eventually but because of the mismanagement of the economy that pick will be slower and take longer. For many people like myself hanging around may eventually not be an option. What angers me is I may be forced to go. Lets face it if I can make a better life abroad I'll look at it seriously. Plenty more will say "enough" and do the same.

house prices falling from their embarrassing highs

But they stll have so very far yet to come down before they reach a sensible level. Reality bites but I don't think its quite sunk home yet. Witness apartment prices in certain parts of Dublins northside.