How Competitive Is Irish Manufacturing?
September 1, 2002
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Order a Print CopyDisclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate
Summary
Ireland has had significant competitiveness gains in the 1990s on the basis of the standard manufacturing unit labor cost-based measure of the real effective exchange rate. A handful of sectors mostly dominated by multinational companies have accounted for the bulk of value added in production. Their productivity gains have greatly contributed to Ireland's exceptional growth performance in the 1990s, which has earned it the nickname of "Celtic Tiger." However, these sectors represent a disproportionately smaller share of manufacturing employment, and competitiveness in employment-intensive sectors has been much weaker. This paper thus explores Irish competitiveness from the viewpoint of risks to employment.
Subject: Competition, Economic sectors, Financial markets, Foreign exchange, Global competitiveness, Globalization, Labor, Labor costs, Manufacturing, Real effective exchange rates
Keywords: apparatus industry, clocks instruments industry, communication equipment industry, Competition, competitiveness, computing machinery industry, employment, exchange rate, gain, Global, Global competitiveness, industry, Ireland, Irish ULCs, Labor costs, Manufacturing, NACE industry 24, pharmaceutical industry, Real effective exchange rates, real exchange rate, unit labor costs, WP
Pages:
12
Volume:
2002
DOI:
Issue:
160
Series:
Working Paper No. 2002/160
Stock No:
WPIEA1602002
ISBN:
9781451857757
ISSN:
1018-5941
