ESRI and Department of Finance Launch Joint Research Programme on the Macro-economy and Taxation

An agreement between the Department of Finance and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on a research programme covering macroeconomic and taxation issues was signed today (3rd February) by Frances Ruane, Director of the Institute and by Derek Moran, Secretary General of the Department.

Under this agreement – the objective of which is to undertake and disseminate research on various macroeconomic and taxation issues in Ireland - researchers from the Institute will work alongside officials from the Department on various research projects.  The programme will run for two years.

Research topics are likely to include:

• research on aspects of the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting initiative;
• analysis of FDI spillover effects;
• research on UK-Ireland macroeconomic links in the context of joint membership of the EU;
• analysis of petrol and diesel markets in Ireland; and
• macroeconomic and tax modelling.

The programme will be governed by a steering committee chaired by Professor Alan Ahearne of NUI Galway and comprising senior officials from the Department and the ESRI. All research will be published.

The research programme is an innovative initiative that builds on the ESRI’s proven economic research capability and the Department’s commitment to enhance its capacity for evidence-based policy analysis. The joint collaboration between the Department and the Institute was announced by the Minister for Finance at the Department’s conference on International Taxation and Economic Growth last October.

Commenting on the new programme, Derek Moran said: “This programme builds on the significant body of economic analysis of taxation and other policy areas undertaken by the Department over recent years. It will help us ensure that our policy advice to the Minister and Government continues to be informed by high-quality economic analysis and evidence. It will also provide important opportunities for economists in the Department to further develop their skills by working alongside ESRI researchers”.

In relation to the new research programme, Frances Ruane said: “The Institute is delighted to have this new programme of research with the Department of Finance. Joint programmes of this nature give ESRI researchers access to high-quality administrative data, reinforcing the relevance and quality of their analysis, while policymakers see greater benefits from their investment in research. The Institute now has a number of such programmes with government departments and agencies, which allow it to undertake research that can contribute directly to informing key policy decisions.”