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This paper explores the characteristics associated with marriages between Roman Catholics and members of other religious denominations ('mixed marriages') in 1911 Ireland. Using the recently-digitized returns of the 1911 census of population, we find that such marriages were relatively rare, varying from two to three percent of all mar- riages in Dublin to less than half a percent in Connacht. However, at the turn of the century in the Dublin area mixed marriages represented 12 per cent or more of mar- riages where at least one of the partners was a non-Catholic. When mixed marriages did occur the Catholic partner was more likely to be the wife. Using regression analysis we examine the individual characteristics of the partners to these marriages and find a number of characteristics significantly associated with them. However, the strength and even the direction of predictors like socioeconomic status vary substantially across regions, most notably between Ulster and the rest of Ireland. In Ulster mixed marriages tended to occur between partners in lower socioeconomic positions, whereas in the rest of Ireland the partners tended to be from higher social strata. Since the religion of the children born to mixed marriages was a contentious issue, we match our sample of partners of mixed religions to their children and find that the religion of the children was strongly influenced by the mothers religion. Couples of mixed religions had lower fertility than the general population, even when the influence of socioeconomic class and other potentially confounding variables is allowed for. This, as well as the evi- dence of higher infant-child mortality among families of mixed marriages, potentially indicates a lack of family and social support due to the general public disapproval of couples who married across the religious divide. Not applicable 2014-09-18 JG: Record recreated after damaged text_value

By European standards Ireland ranks high on many non-economic indicators of well-being. This paper explores how macroeconomic conditions have affected a range of these indicators. Time series data are used to explore the association between unemployment, inflation, and the level and growth rate of real income on the one hand and measures of subjective well-being and markers of mental health on the other. Over the longer term, 1975-2011, there was no upward trend in self-reported life satisfaction despite the secular improvement in living standards. While higher unemployment reduced life satisfaction over the first half of this period, its effect was weaker in later years. The rate of inflation has not had a significant effect on life satisfaction. There is no evidence that admission rates to psychiatric hospitals are affected by changes in economic conditions. However, higher unemployment is linked to higher suicide rates among younger males, although its effect appears to have weakened during the current recession. Finally, the recent rise in unemployment has had a much smaller impact on the birth rate than that due to the recession of the early 1980s. Overall, the impact of the current recession on the well-being indicators studied here has been surprisingly small. Not applicable ti - kpw12/12/11

In this paper we model the behaviour of the Irish suicide rate over the period 1968‐2009 using the unemployment rate and the level of alcohol consumption as explanatory variables. It is found that these variables have significant positive effects on suicide mortality in several demographic groups. Alcohol consumption is a significant influence on the male suicide rate up to age 64. Its influence on the female suicide rate is not as well‐established, although there is evidence that it is important in the 15‐24 and 25‐34 age groups. The unemployment rate is also a significant influence on the male suicide rate in the younger age groups. The behaviour of suicide rates among males aged 55 and over and females aged 25 and over is largely unaccounted for by our model. These broad conclusions hold when account is taken of a structural break in the 1980s, with the response to unemployment being greater in the earlier period and that to alcohol greater in the later period. The findings suggest that higher alcohol consumption played a major role in the increase in suicide mortality among young Irish males between the late 1960s and the end of the century. In the early twenty first century a combination of falling alcohol consumption and low unemployment led to a marked reduction in suicide rates, although there is some evidence that the suicide rate is being increasingly under‐reported in recent years. The recent rise in the suicide rate may be attributed to the sharp increase in unemployment, especially among males, but it has been moderated by the continuing fall in alcohol consumption. Some policy implications of the findings are discussed. Not applicable

read before the Society, 24 January 2008, In the first half of this paper I summarise the trend in Irish deaths rates over the period 1973-2006. In the second half I discuss some possible explanations of these trends.

Following a preliminary discussion of various aspects of the Irish "regional problem", this paper examines the evolution of employment shares, unemployment rates, wage levels, and interregional commuting patterns in the regions of the Republic of Ireland since the 1980s. The evidence shows that all the regions participated in the unprecedented employment boom of the 1990s and that regional disparities in labour market performance fell markedly. Regional unemployment rates seem to adjust quickly to changes in the national rate. The reasons for the relatively successful experience of the Irish regions are discussed. It is argued that there is a need to re-examine the current concern with the regional distribution of economic activity in light of the paper's findings.

Revised version of a paper presented at final conference of the Mapping frontiers, plotting pathways: routes to North-South cooperation in a divided island programme, City Hotel, Armagh, 19-20 January 2006. This paper examines how the two parts of Ireland were affected by the partition of the country in 1922. It examines the post-partition evolution of living standards north and south, and patterns of trade, migration, and road and rail traffic between the two since 1922. A separate section looks at the effects of living near the border on population trends. Bearing in mind the difficulty of establishing a relevant counterfactual— what would have happened in the absence of partition—we conclude that while it is possible to discern a “partition effect”, it is smaller and less significant than is widely perceived. The evidence we present is a salutary warning against great expectations about the possible economic gains from the dismantling the barriers erected between the two parts of Ireland after 1922. Higher Education Authority ti - TS 08/07/10 2014-09-18 JG: Record reinstated from backup after damaged text_value

Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland Presidential address, 6th May 2004

This paper examines the behaviour of the Irish labour market during the 1990s. Over the course of the decade the Irish unemployment rate fell from the highest to the lowest in the EU. Over the same period a record number of jobs was created and all the indicators suggest that full employment was achieved. The primary reason for this employment miracle was the output boom, which in turn may be attributed to Ireland's super competitiveness in the late 1990s. Several factors contributed to this - a low exchange rate, the inflow of FDI to high productivity sectors, and wage moderation following the return to centralised wage agreements in 1987. Labour market reforms, including a tightening of the social welfare regime and a switch of spending from income support to active labour market policies, played a positive role. The fact that unemployment has risen only slowly during the current downturn points to the lasting effect of these changes.

This paper uses the introduction of an exchange rate between Ireland and the UK in 1979 as a natural experiment to shed light on the effects of a common currency on the volume of international trade. No evidence is found from time series or panel regressions that the change of exchange rate regime had a significant effect on the pattern of Irish trade. This finding casts doubt on the belief that the European Economic and Monetary Union will have a major effect on the pattern of trade between participating countries.

This paper studies the effect on Anglo-Irish trade of breaking the link between the Irish pound and sterling in 1979. A gravity model is used to explore this issue. No evidence is found of a structural break following the dismantling of the currency union. Nor did the resultant exchange rate volatility have a significant adverse effect on trade. These results do not support the belief that currency unions result in increased trade flows, either directly or by reducing exchange rate volatility. Not applicable

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The issue of how regional labour markets adjust to shocks has received increased attention in the context of EMU, yet relatively little is known about this aspect of the Irish economy. Using the methodology developed by Blanchard and Katz (1992) this paper explores the evolution of employment, unemployment, labour force participation rates and wage rates in the regions of the Republic. The extent to which regional employment growth is self-reinforcing, the degree of hysteresis in regional unemployment and the absence of convergence in regional wage rates is discussed. The response of regions to shocks in employment is explored by estimating a log linear system in region-specific employment growth, unemployment and labour force participation rates. The implications of the findings for Irish regional development are discussed. Not applicable

This paper reviews previous research on Irish unemployment. It examines the reasons for the persistence of high unemployment and the relevance of the concept of a time-varying rate of "equilibrium" unemployment in a small and open labour market. The links between Irish and British unemployment, and the effects of economic growth on Irish unemployment, are explored. The difficulty of establishing links between Irish labour market conditions and wage price inflation is documented. The paper concludes with a discussion of contribution of centralised wage bargaining to the recent impressive performance of the Irish labour market. Not applicable

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This article reviews the transformation of the Irish economy since the early 1980s. Credit for the initial stabilisation of the economy is given to the shock therapy of cutting expenditure, favourable exchange rate and other external developments. Possible explanations of the higer rate of growth of output now being achieved include a high level of investment in human capital, improved quality of physical capital formation, and a falling burden of taxation. The contribution of the return to centralised wage bargaining and the role of European Union (EU) assistance are also discussed. The prospects for further economic growth over the medium term are considered to be good.

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This paper examines the bahaviour of Irish exchange rates and interest rates over two periods, one immediately before, the other immediately after, the widening of the narrow band of the Exchange Rate Mechanism of the European Monetary System in August 1993. It is shown that a benefit of the dismantling of the narrow band was that the Irish pound did not come under speculative pressure as sterling weakened late in 1994 and it was possible to check the currency's appreciation relative to sterling by a depreciation relative to the DM. Moreover, the influence of the sterling exchange rate on Irish interest rates appears to have been substantially reduced under the new regime. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI 2014-09-18 JG: Record reinstated from backup after damaged text_value

The aim of this paper is to review, in a broad historical context, what we know about the behaviour of Irish wage rates relative to those in Britain. Attention will be focused on the long-run effects of emigration and the structure of employment on wages in Ireland and on whether an equilibrium relationship can be said to have existed between Irish and British industrial wages since the second world war. It is hoped that the lessons that can be drawn from Ireland's experience will shed light on the topical question of the extent to which it is plausible to expect market forces to lead to convergence of living standards over the long run. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

This paper examines the experience of The Gambia following the liberalization of its exchange rate and financial markets in the mid-1980's. It is shown that although nominal interest rates are high, and the real interest rate positive, there is no evidence of systematic excess returns to holders of Gambian treasury bills. The outcome suggests that floating the exchange rate can avert the "peso problem" and work efficiently even in an extremely thin foreign exchange market. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

This paper examines the effects of the EMS crisis of September 1992 on the Irish pound. A review of the Irish experience in the exchange rate mechanism is presented, including an assessment of the extend to which the hard-currency peg pursued after the devaluation of 1986 could be said to have gained credibility for the Irish pound. The behaviour of the Irish interest rates in the aftermath of of sterling's departure form the ERM and the reasons for the protracted attempt to avert a devaluation of the Irish pound are studied. Some implications for progress towards a monetary union in Europe are drawn. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

Following an account of the perceptions of the contribution of education to economic development among Irish policy-makers since the second world war, this paper examines the performance of the Irish economy in the framework of a model of exogenous growth incorporating human capital formation. It is shown that when account is taken of the low level of income at the start of the period and the relatively high rate of human and physical capital accumulation, the Irish growth rate has been relatively low. Possible explanations for this poor performance are explored. Neither the structure of education nor low rates of return to additional years of schooling appear to explain it, but there is evidence that the quality of physical investment has been poor. In addition, high and selective emigration in certain periods may have deprived the country of some of the returns to the increased investment in education undertaken in recent decades. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

As one of a set of policies designed to reduce inflation and interest rates to the levels prevailing in Germany the Irish pound has been stabilised in the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) of the European Monetary System since 1986. This paper examines the effect of this policy on short-term interest rates in Ireland. Only limited evidence is found that the exchange rate policy contributed to the reduction in the German-Irish interest rate differential. Sterling interest rates and the level of the Irish pound/sterling exchange rate have continued to influence the level of Irish interest rates. This was bourne out by the impact of the turbulence of September 1992 on Irish money markets. It is suggested that the costs of rigidly pegging the Irish pound in the ERM may outweigh the benefits of this policy. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

This paper studies the effects of changes in labour force particiapation rates on the size and structure of the Irish labour force over the period 1971-1991. The rise in participation rates among females aged 25-54 and the decline in participation among older and younger people of both sexes altered the structure of the labour force significantly. Time series of annual participation rates are used to explore the reasons for these changes. It is shown that participation rates among those aged 15-24 and males aged 65 and over, although dominated by a negative trend, are responsive to the returns to participation as measured by a combination of wage rates, unemployment benefits and the rate of unemployment. Participation rates among women aged 20-54 are also responsive to the returns to entering the labour force, but there was also a large increase in labour supply associated with the sharp fall in the birth rate during the 1980s. The implications of the elasticity of women's labour supply for the rate of unemployment are discussed. Highlighting in this item renders some text unreadable. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

This chapter summarizes the main developments in the production and international distribution of alcoholic drinks over the last 25 years. It does not claim to be comprehensive because of the disparate nature of the subject and the absence of a systematic survey of the available material. The aim is a modest one, namely to summarize the main trends and features of the market in alcoholic drinks and to examine the relevance of these developments for public health issues.

Read before the Society, 7 December 1973, This study has a double focus, substantive and methodological. Substantively, it attempts to apply and test a fairly well known model of labour supply. From a methodological point of view, it shows how the Linear Probability Function (LPF) may be applied to the analysis of survey data. This technique is one of a family of multivanate methods which are being increasingly applied to the analysis of behaviour on the micro-level in a wide variety of social science disciplines economics, sociology, psychology, demography, etc.