## Ireland: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, June 26, 2017_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Ireland: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/06/26/ireland-selected-issues-45007)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/06/26/ireland-selected-issues-45007/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/06/26/ireland-selected-issues-45007/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/06/26/ireland-selected-issues-45007/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: June 26, 2017
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484305546.002

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### Overview
- This Selected Issues paper provides an overview of income distribution and the welfare system in Ireland, with a focus on the crisis and postcrisis periods.
- Ireland’s flexible economy and strong social safety net helped mitigate the adverse effects of the property-driven crisis.
- Although economic conditions are improving rapidly, lifting employment, ongoing efforts are needed to address the lingering impact on those hardest hit, including the long-term unemployed and unemployed youth.
- Consistent efforts are needed to support sustainable and inclusive growth and meet ambitious social targets, including the reduction of consistent poverty to 2 percent by 2020.

### Key Findings
- Ireland’s flexible economy and strong social safety net were important factors in mitigating adverse effects of the property-driven crisis.
- Economic conditions are improving rapidly and lifting employment.
- Persistent challenges remain for vulnerable groups:
  - Long-term unemployed.
  - Unemployed youth.
- Meeting social targets requires sustained policy effort:
  - Target: reduction of consistent poverty to 2 percent by 2020.

### Policy Implications and Recommendations
- Continue targeted policies to assist those hardest hit by the crisis, with particular focus on:
  - Long-term unemployed.
  - Youth unemployment.
- Maintain and strengthen measures that support sustainable and inclusive growth while pursuing social targets such as reducing consistent poverty to 2 percent by 2020.
- Ensure the tax-benefit system and labor policies remain aligned to support disposable income, income distribution, and reduction of income inequality.

### Subjects and Keywords
- Subject: Disposable income, Income distribution, Income inequality, Labor, National accounts, Personal income
- Keywords: CR, Disposable income, Europe, Global, gross value added, household debt, IMF staff, Income distribution, Income inequality, intangible operation, Ireland, ISCR, multinational, multinational-dominated sector, Personal income, tax-benefit system

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## Content in this bundle

- **Country Report**
  - [Country Report (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2017/cr17172.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Country Report (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2017/cr17172.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/06/26/ireland-selected-issues-45007_