Best of the begrudgers

We may have greater pride in our national accomplishments than other nations, according to research released this week by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. In a study of 23 nations it was found the Irish ranked their country the highest in sports, arts and literature, history and fair and equal treatment of citizens. No mention of business, but then the authors of Ireland's Entrepreneurial Elite, Richard Curran and Declan Hayes, reached a similar conclusion. Our "cultural impediments", not least begrudgery, remain the greatest single obstacle to Ireland building a sustainable, indigenous, industrial base, they write.