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3 weeks ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
The US approach to trade restrictions is a roller coaster. The tactic so far has been to announce a big increase in tariffs on its trading partners, then some degree of rowing back pending negotiations, then some new threats if negotiations aren’t going fully the US’s way. Now the US courts have intervened to at least delay proposed tariffs. It’s not clear where all this will land. China confronted US tariffs that escalated to more than 100 per cent with its own countermeasures.
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4 weeks ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
The macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy have long been understood: when an economy is growing below trend, government should stimulate activity, and when full employment is reached, governments should put on the brakes. That way, governments can smooth activity in the economy, minimising shocks to consumers and business. However, the optimal economic policy often comes second to political pressures, especially in the run-up to an election.
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1 month ago | 
openforum.com.au | John Fitzgerald
All nation states have a right to defend themselves. But do regimes enjoy an equal right to self-defence? Is the security of a particular party-in-power a fundamental right of nations? The Chinese government is asking us to answer in the affirmative. Australians need to say no. As a governing regime, the Chinese Communist Party claims many of the prerogatives of a nation state. This includes a monopoly over the legitimate use of physical force—Max Weber’s classic definition of a state.
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1 month ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
Since the Donald Trump regime took office, the world of international trade has descended into chaos. Exporters to the US don’t know from one month to the next what tariffs will be payable. Sensibly, the EU has been slow to respond. But if the US does not relent, there will be extra tariffs charged on EU exports, on top of the 10 per cent baseline now in place, when the 90 day grace period is up.
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1 month ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
Ireland has a very successful pharmaceutical industry that is of considerable economic importance, employing about 70,000 people in high-paid jobs. In 2023 its exports, which account for the bulk of its output, amounted to about €130 billion, 10 per cent of world trade in pharmaceuticals. It also netted the State about €4 billion in corporation tax.
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1 month ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
It’s becoming harder for official statistics to document people’s romantic relationships as informal partnerships are the norm for many young people. Age at marriage is no longer a good guide to when people move in together, although marriage is not yet completely gone out of fashion: analysis of families for Census 2022 showed 69 per cent consisted of married couples, 19 per cent of single parents and 14 per cent of cohabiting couples.
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1 month ago | 
mondaq.com | John Fitzgerald
It has been a busy year for health care noncompete legislation. Multiple states have enacted legislation, set to take effect in2025, banning or limiting noncompete agreements for physicians andother health care workers. Although this post only covers enactedlegislation, many other states have proposed legislationpending. Arkansas: On March 4, 2025, Arkansas enacted a law amending the state'snoncompete statute to ban physician noncompetition agreements.
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1 month ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
Over the last 50 years, the North’s economy has performed poorly, not only relative to the Republic but also compared to the rest of the United Kingdom. While the Troubles had a big impact in the 1970s and 1980s, the 25 years since the Belfast Agreement have not been marked by a recovery in its position within the UK, despite Stormont having control over important aspects of its economy.
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2 months ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
The study published last week by Adele Bergin and Seamus McGuinness of the ESRI comparing Northern Ireland and the Republic showed a major gap in living standards between the two jurisdictions. Whether measured in terms of disposable income, health or education outcomes, the Republic now performs much better. The ESRI study shows that there is gap of over 50 per cent between output per person North and South. However, the gap in personal income per head is much lower, at just under 20 per cent.
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2 months ago | 
irishtimes.com | John Fitzgerald
It took a number of years of negotiations between the regulatory authorities in the State and in Northern Ireland before the all-island electricity market began in 2007. The benefits of an integrated electricity system on the island of Ireland were seen as substantial: it would make for enhanced security of supply, reduce the cost of electricity for all on the island and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
