The Celtic Tiger

The Celtic Tiger has been hailed a triumph as a success story for the free market. This book looks under the surface to discover a discontented majority who are losing out. The booming economy rests on a major influx of US investment which has been attracted to the prospect of tax cuts. Yet few have discussed the effects of this form of "social dumping" of Irish society at large. Kieran Allen argues that it has led to a run down in social services and a deterioration of the quality of life. Cities are gridlocked because of poor public transport and housing crises have left 150,000 in need of adequate accommodation. Officially social partnership exists between employers and workers but in reality there is an immense social polarisation. By incorporating the union leaders into partnership structures, the ruling elite have been given a free hand to manage by stress and continually push for more "flexibility". This critical look at the Celtic Tiger challenges many myths about Ireland's success story and brings its class divisions into sharp focus.