--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/issue-3/the-irish-economic-boom-what-can-we-learn/" title: "The Irish Economic Boom: What Can We Learn?" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-10T09:13:24+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T06:38:11+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Fall 2001" ipm_keyword: - "Canada" - "catch-up" - "economic growth" - "employment rate" - "Ireland" - "labour productivity" - "living standards" - "policy lessons" ipm_research_theme: - "Policy and institutions" - "Productivity trends and comparisons" ipm_country_focus: - "Canada" - "Ireland" - "OECD" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # The Irish Economic Boom: What Can We Learn? Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/issue-3/the-irish-economic-boom-what-can-we-learn/ # The Irish Economic Boom: What Can We Learn? [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-3-2-Fortin.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Fortin, Pierre. 2001. “The Irish Economic Boom: What Can We Learn?” International Productivity Monitor, No. 3 (Fall 2001): 19–31. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/issue-3/the-irish-economic-boom-what-can-we-learn/ ## Author: - Pierre Fortin Université du Québec à Montréal; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIAR) ## IPM Issue 3 Fall 2001 pp. 19–31 ## Related IPM articles [Labour Productivity as a Measure of Technological Change Ulrich Kohli Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 64–81](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/labour-productivity-as-a-measure-of-technological-change/) [The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth Robin Shaban Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 82–102](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-relationship-between-efficiencies-defenses-for-mergers-and-tfp-growth/) [Appendix: Variable Definitions and Country/Sector Coverage for Regulatory Reform Analysis Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 1–18](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/appendix-variable-definitions-and-country-sector-coverage-for-regulatory-reform-analysis/) [The Potential Impact of Pro-competitive Regulatory Reforms on Productivity and Growth in Canada Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 3–40](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-potential-impact-of-pro-competitive-regulatory-reforms-on-productivity-and-growth-in-canada/) [IPM Issue 49 Editors’ Overview Andrew Sharpe, Bart van Ark, Paul Schreyer Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 1–2](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/) [How Does Industrial Policy Impact Output, Hours and Productivity? The Canadian Experience Tim Sargent Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 39–53](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/how-does-industrial-policy-impact-output-hours-and-productivity-the-canadian-experience/) [IPM Issue 47 Editors’ Overview Andrew Sharpe, Bart van Ark Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 1–2](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/) [Accounting for the Decline of Canada’s Real GDP Per Capita since Mid-2022 Philip Smith Spring 2024 | IPM Issue 46 | pp. 83–100](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-46/accounting-for-the-decline-of-canadas-real-gdp-per-capita-since-mid-2022/) [Cracking the Productivity Code: An International Comparison of UK Productivity John Van Reenen, Xuyi Yang Spring 2024 | IPM Issue 46 | pp. 60–82](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-46/cracking-the-productivity-code-an-international-comparison-of-uk-productivity/) [IPM Issue 46 Editors’ Overview Andrew Sharpe, Bart van Ark Spring 2024 | IPM Issue 46 | pp. 1–2](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-46/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This article examines the factors behind Ireland’s exceptional economic performance in the 1990s, during which real GDP per capita nearly doubled. It finds that Ireland’s recent boom reflects a long-term productivity trend spanning 25 years combined with an acceleration in employment rate growth, not a productivity acceleration. Policy lessons drawn include: support free trade and investment, develop business-friendly industrial and tax policies, maintain free or low-cost secondary and post-secondary education, and ensure aggregate supply can accommodate non-inflationary demand expansion. Cet article examine les facteurs à l’origine des performances économiques exceptionnelles de l’Irlande dans les années 1990, période au cours de laquelle le PIB réel par habitant a presque doublé. Il constate que le récent boom irlandais reflète une tendance de productivité à long terme s’étalant sur 25 ans combinée à une accélération de la croissance du taux d’emploi, et non une accélération de la productivité. Les enseignements politiques tirés comprennent : soutenir le libre-échange et l’investissement, développer des politiques industrielles et fiscales favorables aux entreprises, maintenir un enseignement secondaire et postsecondaire gratuit ou à faible coût, et s’assurer que l’offre globale peut absorber une expansion de la demande sans pressions inflationnistes. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-3-2-Fortin.pdf)