Launch of book by David Begg comparing Ireland with other small economies

A study by David Begg comparing the Irish economy with Nordic and other European models was launched yesterday evening at an event at the Royal Irish Academy.

The book Ireland, Small Open Economies and European Integration: Lost in Translation examines how four small open economies – Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Ireland – have managed the challenges of Europeanisation since the single market came into being.

Mr Begg (pictured above, right, with Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay) is the director of Tasc – Think tank for Action on Social Change – and former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. He was recently appointed chair of the Pension Authority by Tánaiste Joan Burton in circumstances that drew criticism from Opposition parties, which said the appointment should have been publicly advertised.

Mr Begg’s book examines how Irish institutions have engaged with Europe and how decisions on issues such as integration, the EMU and social partnership were reached.

Mr Begg said the general election result heralded a change in mindset among the Irish electorate. “For all of the bad things that have come out of the election in terms of the confusion, people didn’t buy auction politics for the first time in our history,” he said.