Competitiveness (National)

[pjoz]

I expected better from somebody who maintains the economics and finance forum,claiming to have a strong knowledge of the subject matter.I will have no problem in retracting my comment if you show some knowledge on the subject matter and look forward to some intelligent debate on the matter.

[pjoz]

Ah come on,there must be a FFer out there who can satifactorily explain the concept of national competitiveness for us?

[Libero]

Here's a fascinating study of Ireland's international competitiveness from 2003, written by one of the world's foremost experts on the concept (PDF file):
http://www.isc.hbs.edu/pdf/CAON_Irel...3.10.09_CK.pdf

You don't need an economics degree to understand it, although you'll need a strong constitution to avoid the urge, having read the report, to print out a picture of Bertie Ahern and rip it to shreds. After all, he did much the same to our national competitiveness.

As for the current focus by the Irish establishment on national competitiveness, it's just a slogan. There is no coherent national plan to improve our national competitiveness, just a series of budget cuts that have to be implemented and a whole lot of wage cuts forced on the population by troubled businessess. Amid all that pain, an imporvement in national competitiveness is a handy silver lining that can be pointed to, even by those who know better that cost competitiveness is only one element of the concept and that other contributors to national competitiveness are being eroded, i.e. a functioning banking system, public service provision, crime levels, etc.

[Hillmanhunter1]

"National competitiveness is a broad concept that encompasses a diverse range of factors and policy inputs including education and training, entrepreneurship and innovation, Ireland’s economic and technological infrastructure and the taxation and regulatory framework."

Our Work - The National Competitiveness Council (NCC)

[pjoz]

I suspected someone might suggest having a look at what the NCC has to say.Havent the time to be researching their budget or workforce.If somebody has that info Id have no problem in explaining how and why its a complete waste of resources.More spoofing and spin at the behest of FF

[Hillmanhunter1]

I suspected someone might suggest having a look at what the NCC has to say.Havent the time to be researching their budget or workforce.If somebody has that info Id have no problem in explaining how and why its a complete waste of resources.More spoofing and spin at the behest of FF

Yes, researching the facts can take time, prejudice and stereotypes are a far quicker way of arriving at a view.

[birthday]

The NCC want competitiveness in the Private Sector. They understand that we are an open economy and that we need to export goods and services.
Not surprisingly they have pointed out that professional services are overpriced and that a reduction in professional fees across the economy would be beneficial.

So far so good.

Now we come to the Public Service. They are remarkably quiet on the efficiency of public expenditure, PS pay rates, wasteful expenditure, lack of reform, restricitive practices. These areas are never mentioned in their reports!

This is because the board are made up substantially of PS trade union appointees and civil servants. Do turkeys vote for Christmas!

In other words they want everyone else other than the sector that they represent to be efficient and competitive.
In order to continue to pay the PS the salaries that they have become accustomed to they have recommended that the government to introduce a property tax on primary residences which would raise c€1 billion.

Although the NCC costs relatively little to run, its utter bias means it must either be closed immediately or reconstituted to represent a fair and balanced approach to National Competitiveness.

[beamish2010]

Competiveness in FF speak is cutting wages both public & private by about 30% to make us more attractive to FDI.

That's right the talk being more competitive is just another FF codeword
for cutting back on public services and shafting the working classes while
bailing out their rich banker buddies who caused the economic crisis in the
first place.

[pjoz]

Here's a fascinating study of Ireland's international competitiveness from 2003, written by one of the world's foremost experts on the concept (PDF file):
http://www.isc.hbs.edu/pdf/CAON_Irel...3.10.09_CK.pdf

You don't need an economics degree to understand it, although you'll need a strong constitution to avoid the urge, having read the report, to print out a picture of Bertie Ahern and rip it to shreds. After all, he did much the same to our national competitiveness.

As for the current focus by the Irish establishment on national competitiveness, it's just a slogan. There is no coherent national plan to improve our national competitiveness, just a series of budget cuts that have to be implemented and a whole lot of wage cuts forced on the population by troubled businessess. Amid all that pain, an imporvement in national competitiveness is a handy silver lining that can be pointed to, even by those who know better that cost competitiveness is only one element of the concept and that other contributors to national competitiveness are being eroded, i.e. a functioning banking system, public service provision, crime levels, etc.

An interesting slide show.Havent the time to give it proper consideration at the moment but will look over it at weekend

[pjoz]

Yes, researching the facts can take time, prejudice and stereotypes are a far quicker way of arriving at a view.

Researching facts does take time.The most fundamental element establishing whether you are dealing with clean or dirty data.Any economic document with a foreword by Cowen or Ahearne should be treated with extreme caution.Time being a scarce resource of mine I wouldnt waste it reading what cheerleaders of those muppets have to say.I already have a good grasp of Irelands economic situation and listening to FF spoof makes my blood boil