Ireland's Malaise: The Troubled Personality of the Irish Economy

This provocative book by the former Chief Economist at the Central Bank of Ireland argues that relying on conventional economics will not rescue Ireland from its current crisis, and that only through a deep understanding of Ireland's culture and economic 'personality' can we start on the road to sustainable recovery.

A fundamental question relates to Ireland's entrepreneurial culture. Do enough Irish business people have the innate ability and confidence to create successful new enterprises, or will we forever have to rely on the multinational companies? Do our politicians and public officials know how to encourage a growth ethos? Do they have the skills and attitudes required to foster the crucial 'people dimension'? Answers to these and other questions will determine how Ireland can recover from recession and develop the economy over the next two decades, despite the legacy of the banking crisis.

In Ireland's Malaise, Michael Casey offers radical reforms for improving economic performance, including how to encourage entrepreneurs, enhance competitiveness, unleash the Irish consumer, reform government and the public sector, promote a fairer society with real partnership and, above all, overcome our ingrained reluctance to change. He concludes that changing our economic behaviour to achieve higher standards of living is a matter of will rather than of ability, and that 'the choice is ours'.