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Fabricating Economic Development

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  • Gramh Brownlow

    (Queen's University Belfast)

Abstract

Much of the literature, regardless of academic discipline, presents the publication of Economic Development in 1958 as analogous to a “big bang” event in the creation of modern Ireland. However, such a “big bang” perspective misrepresents the sophistication of economic debates prior to Whitaker’s report as well as distorting the interpretation of subsequent developments. This paper reappraises Irish economic thinking before and after the publication of Economic Development. It is argued that an economically “liberal” approach to Keynesianism, such as that favoured by T. K. Whitaker and George O’Brien, lost out in the 1960s to a more interventionist approach: only later did a more liberal approach to macroeconomic policy triumph. The rival approaches to academic economics were in turn linked to wider debates on the influence of religious authorities on Irish higher education. Academic economists were particularly concerned with preserving their intellectual independence and how a shift to planning would keep decisions on resource allocation out of the reach of conservative political and religious leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Gramh Brownlow, 2010. "Fabricating Economic Development," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 41(3), pages 301-324.
    • Handle: RePEc:eso:journl:v:41:y:2010:i:3:p:301-324
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    File URL: http://www.esr.ie/vol41_3/05-brownlow.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Colander, 1992. "New Keynesian Economics in Perspective," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 18(4), pages 438-448, Fall.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kenny, Seán & McLaughlin, Eoin, 2022. "Political Economy Of Secession: Lessons From The Early Years Of The Irish Free State," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 261, pages 48-78, August.
    2. Ella Kavanagh, 2018. "Evolving Central Bank thinking: the Irish Central Bank, 1943-69," Working Papers 18022, Economic History Society.

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