What cutting corporation tax to 10% would mean for the UK

Richard Murphy: Some of the smaller economic brains inside the Brexit camp are suggesting that the UK should cut its corporation tax rate to 10 per cent. Let me suggest some of the consequences.

The Impact of Driverless Cars: Blog 2

Paul Sweeney: In the last blog, it was forecast that driverless cars will be in mass production and in use in less than ten years. In this Blog, I will briefly examine the impact of driverless cars on different areas of the economy and society.

The Massive Impact of Driverless Cars, Blog 1.

Paul Sweeney: A few weeks ago, Uber introduced the first driverless cars on the road: a self-driving taxi fleet in Pittsburgh. Uber, partnered with Volvo, Google, Tesla, Volkswagen, Ford and GM are all investing heavily in driverless cars.

Insider lobbying and transparency - the hidden influence of expert and advisory groups

Nuala Haughey: After a full year in operation, the legislation behind Ireland’s lobbying transparency regime is being reviewed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

This is an important troubleshooting opportunity, as glitches in the law or its implementation can undermine its contribution to increased transparency in public decision-making.

The difference a welfare state makes

James Wickham:  Two charts that tell very different stories about inequality in Ireland today…

Opinion poll shows Budget 2017 should provide significant increase in investment in public services and infrastructure

Rory Hearne: Another opinion poll, this latest one from the Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI, shows that “a large majority of voters favour increasing spending on public services and welfare ahead of reducing taxes and charges”. This week’s Budget should reflect this public mood and provide a very significant increase in investment in key public services and infrastructure, particularly housing, a reversal of regressive austerity measures and outline a plan for the restructuring of the Irish economy away from failed neoliberalism towards a more social economy model of development.

The Private Rental Crisis: Towards a Solution

         

P.J.  Drudy: A recent survey of rising rents by Daft.ie is a further wake-up call for all of us and for the government.  During the last three months alone private sector rents nationwide rose by almost 4% and have risen 39% since 2011. 

Some People Pay Much More Tax Than Others (ITI Report)

Nat O'Connor: The Irish Tax Institute (ITI) has just published Perspectives on Ireland's personal tax system, which will be discussed on RTÉ Primetime tonight. Their main argument is that taxes are skewed, with those on high and "middle" incomes paying too much, and those on low incomes paying very little.

There are a number of problems with the ITI's analysis, including the prominence given to unorthodox measurements and a lack of context for their comparison with other countries.

Corporate Social Responsibility -the first casualty in Apple ‘truth fight’

Colm O'Doherty:  Viewed through a Corporate Social Responsibility lens the behaviour of the Irish State and Apple does not stand up to scrutiny.

The harsh impact of economic inequality on children in Ireland: Part 2

Rory Hearne: Children’s well-being is deeply affected by economic inequality. This is linked to, and results from, inadequate public expenditure on public services like health and education and wider economic inequalities in Irish society, such as income and wealth. In this blog, the second of two blogs dealing with Children and Economic Inequality in Ireland, I look at inequalities relating to health and housing and also some causes and potential solutions relating to reducing child inequality. 

On Apple tax, State must side with its citizens

Paul Sweeney: It is widely agreed that globalisation has bought immense benefits. But it is also recognised that these benefits are not equally distributed. Last week’s Apple decision demonstrates the complexity of the issue of distributing the benefits of globalisation. The Irish Government, faced with a windfall of some €13 billion, appears to have sided with the world’s largest and most profitable company against the welfare of its citizens.

The profound impact of inequality on children in Ireland

Rory Hearne: The impact of economic inequality on children’s levels of wellbeing has received increased attention internationally. This blog draws on the findings from TASC’s second annual report on economic inequality in Ireland, Cherishing All Equally 2016, to provide a brief analysis of the extent and impact of economic inequality on children in Ireland.

Appeal of Apple tax ruling is not in the public interest

James Stewart: The commission assessment of unpaid taxes at €13bn plus interest, to be recovered by Ireland is much higher than most expected, especially the Government.

Replacing USC with 600% Property Tax is Not Likely

Nat O'Connor: Talk of a 600% increase in property tax is a catchy headline, but not realistic fiscal policy. However, it is useful if it gets people thinking about how we pay for public services—and who pays.

There is a political promise in the Programme for Government to abolish USC (the Universal Social Charge). Yet USC brings in around €4 billion per year. So, officials in the Department of Finance (and presumably Revenue) have produced a document spelling out various ways to raise €4 billion elsewhere if the USC was abolished.

There are two key questions: Do we want to keep the same level of tax revenue in order to provide the same level of public services? Who should pay more or less tax?

Housing and homelessness crisis worsens

Rory Hearne: This week’s figures on homelessness and rent increases provide further evidence of the on-going housing crisis. Unfortunately the Government’s recent Action Policy for Housing and Homelessness provided no significant change in direction from the policies that caused the current crisis. Therefore, issues of homelessness and housing unaffordability are going to worsen in the coming months and years with harsh results for those most affected.

Despite recovery, Ireland remains a hugely unequal society

Rory Hearne: The fact that the number of homeless children in the capital exceeds 2,000 for the first time since current records began is further evidence Ireland is a deeply unequal country. Economic inequality is worsening despite the recovery and, for those experiencing inequality, particularly children, Ireland is a very harsh place.

London on the Liffey? Some impacts of the relocation of financial services jobs to Dublin

James Wickham:  Post-Brexit it is widely believed that Ireland will benefit from the relocation of some  financial services employment from London to Dublin.  There are some issues about the type of employment generated by mobile financial services...

The Not-Sharing Economy Part 2 – Uber and Airbnb

Paul Sweeney: In my last blog, I argued that the so-called “sharing economy” is based on an increasingly “fissured workplace.” Many technology firms can have a negative impact on jobs, workers’ conditions, on taxes and indeed on the sovereign state and democracy. This blog will examine two of these firms in the so-called sharing -  Uber, the world’s most valuable start-up and Airbnb, the  third most valuable one.

Uber

Uber has had endless global litigation, including a class-action lawsuit from drivers in California and Massachusetts which it recently settled for $100m. It avoids Irish VAT by shipping payments through Netherlands. 

Women’s unpaid care is pivotal factor in gendered economic inequalities

Dr Ursula Barry and Dr Maggie Feeley: Despite the issue of gender inequalities being well-aired in the past decades, current evidence shows that women in Ireland still experience immense economic disadvantage.

The “Sharing” Economy is based on a Fissured Workplace

Paul Sweeney: Uber and Airbnb are not the Sharing Economy. Instead, they represent a rapid increase in the “Fissured Workplace”. 

This “sharing” is large businesses shedding their employees and sourcing labour through "a complex network" of external entities, creating intermediaries between the workers and profiting from that work.

The fissured workplace is developing between a ruthless breed of capitalists, a shrinking elite of core workers, and the rest.