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Celtic Phoenix or Leprechaun Economics? The Politics of an FDI-led Growth Model in Europe

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  • Aidan Regan
  • Samuel Brazys

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that Ireland’s post-crisis economic recovery in Europe was driven by foreign direct investment (FDI) from Silicon Valley, and while this growth model was made possible by Ireland’s low-corporate tax rates, it was also a result of these firms using Ireland to directly access the European labour market. We evidence this contention via sectoral and geographic analyses while simultaneously showing that Irish fiscal policies have not redistributed gains from the recovery to the broader population. As a result, the economic recovery has been most actively felt by those in the FDI sectors, including workers from the EU and beyond. Building on theories from the study of comparative capitalism, we suggest that this experience indicates that Ireland’s FDI-led growth model has created clear winners and losers, with significant distributional implications. The FDI growth regime been made possible by inward migration and European integration, but given the unequal distribution of the economic benefits that this generates, it is unlikely to be politically, or electorally, sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Aidan Regan & Samuel Brazys, 2018. "Celtic Phoenix or Leprechaun Economics? The Politics of an FDI-led Growth Model in Europe," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 223-238, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cnpexx:v:23:y:2018:i:2:p:223-238
    DOI: 10.1080/13563467.2017.1370447
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    Cited by:

    1. Claudius Graebner-Radkowitsch, 2022. "Elements of an evolutionary approach to comparative economic studies: complexity, systemism, and path dependent development," ICAE Working Papers 134, Johannes Kepler University, Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy.
    2. Woodgate, Ryan, 2021. "Profit-led in effect or in mere appearance? Estimating the Irish demand regime given the influence of multinational enterprises," IPE Working Papers 154/2021, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    3. Liam Kneafsey & Aidan Regan, 2019. "The Role of the Media in Shaping Attitudes Toward Corporate Tax Avoidance: Experimental Evidence from Ireland," Working Papers 201904, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    4. Akcay, Ümit & Jungmann, Benjamin, 2022. "Political economy of growth regimes in Poland and Turkey," IPE Working Papers 190/2022, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    5. Claudius Gräbner & Philipp Heimberger & Jakob Kapeller & Bernhard Schütz, 2018. "Structural Change in Times of Increasing Openness," wiiw Working Papers 143, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    6. Claudius Gräbner & Philipp Heimberger & Jakob Kapeller & Bernhard Schütz, 2020. "Structural change in times of increasing openness: assessing path dependency in European economic integration," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 30(5), pages 1467-1495, November.
    7. Ergen, Timur & Kohl, Sebastian & Braun, Benjamin, 2021. "Firm foundations: The statistical footprint of multinational corporations as a problem for political economy," MPIfG Discussion Paper 21/5, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    8. Jakob Kapeller & Claudius Graebner & Philipp Heimberger, 2019. "Economic Polarisation in Europe: Causes and Policy Options," ICAE Working Papers 99, Johannes Kepler University, Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy.
    9. Benjamin Jungmann, 2023. "Growth drivers in emerging capitalist economies: building blocks for a post-Keynesian analysis and an empirical exploration of the years before and after the Global Financial Crisis," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 349-386, July.
    10. Matías Dewey & Donato Di Carlo, 2022. "Governing through non‐enforcement: Regulatory forbearance as industrial policy in advanced economies," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), pages 930-950, July.
    11. Ryan Woodgate, 2022. "Profit-led in effect or in appearance alone? Estimating the Irish demand regime given the influence of multinational enterprises," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 319-350, July.
    12. James Wood & Engelbert Stockhammer, 2020. "House prices, private debt and the macroeconomics of comparative political economy," Working Papers PKWP2005, Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES).
    13. Sonja Avlijas & Anke Hassel & Bruno Palier, 2021. "Growth Strategies and Welfare Reforms in Europe," Post-Print hal-03380958, HAL.
    14. Baccaro, Lucio & Hadziabdic, Sinisa, 2022. "Operationalizing growth models," MPIfG Discussion Paper 22/6, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    15. Spielberger, Lukas & Voss, Dustin, 2022. "Financial adjustment as a driver of growth model change: a balance-sheet approach to comparative political economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 116034, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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