Posted 14 January 2009
Responding to the crisis - UCD School of Economics hosts a major conference on the current economic crisis
A conference on the current economic crisis hosted by Colm McCarthy of UCD School of Economics, who along with other UCD economists and colleagues from TCD, NUI Galway, Davy Stockbrokers and SocGen Paris, presented papers dealing with the government’s current budget deficit, the property market and the banking crisis.
The conference which took place on 12 January was attended by over 200 people including senior civil servants, leading Irish economists and politicians. At the conference, participants highlighted the linkages between the property market collapse, the banking crisis and the rapid deterioration in public finances.
Commenting on the event, Professor Rodney Thom, Head of the UCD School of Economics said:
“This conference, originally suggested by Professor Brigid Laffan, Principal of the UCD College of Human Sciences, demonstrates both the agenda-shaping role of UCD’s School of Economics and our commitment to serving the wider community of which we form part. We are delighted with the impact of the event, reflected in the standing-room only attendance and the cooperation we received from other Irish universities and the private sector. If the conference reached any conclusion it is that Ireland’s current difficulties cannot be underestimated and there are no simple solutions. Tough decisions have to be made on public expenditure, taxation, public sector pay and competitiveness. There is light at the end of the tunnel but the way forward will be difficult and painful. In conjunction with academic, public and private sector colleagues the UCD School of Economics has made a significant contribution to this debate and will continue to use its expertise to assist in resolving the crisis”.
