[Marxism] Poverty in NE Ireland

["DoC" <donaloc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The article posted by Phil Ferguson was very accurate. While economic
benefits have largely accrued to the bourgeois class, workers continue
to struggle across the island.

I just want to highlight the fact that the economic fundamentals from a
(bourgeois) viewpoint in the Six Counties look very bad. R&D low,
business creation rates at the lowest in the (so-called) UK,
manufacturing contracting, growth of employment in low wage service
sectors, to bring employment levels up to UK levels they will have to
create 230,000 jobs by 2010 (that is not happening). [For those who note
the apparent contradiction with our low unemployment and low employment
rates - many are excluded from the 'active' workforce as they are
long-term sick and many women don't work here]. FDI is flowing out if
anything.

In the rest of Ireland, they are talking up potential of second period
of Celtic Tiger but to support this in our now (above Eastern European
rates anyhow) expensive labour market will have to accommodate large
levels of inward migration to lower the wage level to attract the FDI.
Retaining it is even problematic in the 26 Counties today. The only
thing really propping up the 26 County economy is some income from
Financial 'Services' coming out of Dublin and the massive growth coming
out of the construction sector. Currently, at least 19% of all govt
receipts in the 'Free' State comes from the construction industry. We
are enduring a prolonged housing boom. This is reflective of the fact
that the total population is increasing (slightly) but our family sizes
are decreasing rapidly - hence the need for more houses (140% of 2000
stock needed by 2010). Without this growth the 26 county economy would
collapse. Those benefiting from the Peace process in the North are
largely border (and Belfast) contractors, property developers and those
working for them. Those working for the state continue to benefit from
the pump-priming associated with the 'subvention' from London and the
rest of us live in the private or community-employed sectors while many
are lumbered with huge levels of debt to pay off those expensive houses.

Le meas
DoC.

_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism