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Knowledge Economy Forum, 19-22 February 2002. Miracles do happen The story of recent Irish economic growth Tom Healy (Department of Education and Science, Ireland). Late development Economic-political-social-institutional “fundamentals” Simple policy formulae do not apply. Key points.
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Knowledge Economy Forum, 19-22 February 2002 Miracles do happenThe story of recent Irish economic growthTom Healy(Department of Education and Science, Ireland)
Late development Economic-political-social-institutional “fundamentals” Simple policy formulae do not apply Key points
Foreign Direct Investment Importation of latest technology Spillovers Supply of graduates Nature of FDI Trade, Investment & Convergence
AIFTA - EEC (1973) Income and capital transfers (ESF …) Geographical isolation no longer vital Gradual change in mentality European Union
Late developer Youthful population Changes in female labour force participation Return migration Construction boom Demographic factors
Traditional explanations don’t work so well mushrooms or leaven effects? quality of investments, policy combinations, institutional and social partnerships Multi-factor productivity
“free” secondary education 1968 Regional Technical Colleges (1970- ) University under-graduate intake high output of S&T graduates Relatively more is spent on HE The role of formal education
Limitations of formal education and training Return migration Intel & Microsoft story business start-ups and technology transfer Beyond formal education
Very difficult to assess/quantify Painful adjustments + working together ethos National Wage agreements (“Social Wage”) Bi-partisan political approach local area partnerships Social Partnership
The mystery of the “unexplained residual” 0.8% more growth for 10 point increase in general trust (Knack and Keefer) reducing transactions costs sharing knowledge and “communities of practice” Social Capital
More is not necessarily better general but applied education to 18? Informal learning partnerships foster learning communities and organisations quality of teaching practice all good things take time Policy issues
don’t put all your eggs in one basket give attention to social inclusion as a priority before, during and after economic lift-off foster synergies - FDI, training, high-skill mobility, flexibility, less red tape …. Policy issues
Will it last? What about social and natural environments? What about GNH? What about the poor and excluded? What about the future in a larger EU? How to use “learning partnerships” for LLL Questions for the Irish