Dan O'Brien
@danobrien20.bsky.social
Chief economist at IIEA and columnist with The Currency. Presenter and consultant on economics, policy and international relations.
Ireland needs more construction workers. Despite big infrastructure gaps, particularly in housing, the share of workers employment in the construction of buildings is only slightly above the EU average, and well below many other slower growing EU countries.
September 12, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Ireland needs more construction workers. Despite big infrastructure gaps, particularly in housing, the share of workers employment in the construction of buildings is only slightly above the EU average, and well below many other slower growing EU countries.
Ireland's leftward lurch is discussed in my column in The Currency today.
thecurrency.news/articles/199...
thecurrency.news/articles/199...
August 29, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Ireland's leftward lurch is discussed in my column in The Currency today.
thecurrency.news/articles/199...
thecurrency.news/articles/199...
Irish exports to the US increased by a staggering 210% in February. Companies have been scrambling to get product across the Atlantic before tariffs hit.
From today's CSO
From today's CSO
April 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Irish exports to the US increased by a staggering 210% in February. Companies have been scrambling to get product across the Atlantic before tariffs hit.
From today's CSO
From today's CSO
First month-on-month decline in US inflation since...Trump was last in office.
April 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
First month-on-month decline in US inflation since...Trump was last in office.
US tax changes incentivised American pharma companies to shift production to Ireland, ship product back home and pay tax in Ireland.
On 'This Week' on RTE radio at 1.30pm later to discuss the tariff threat.
On 'This Week' on RTE radio at 1.30pm later to discuss the tariff threat.
April 6, 2025 at 10:29 AM
US tax changes incentivised American pharma companies to shift production to Ireland, ship product back home and pay tax in Ireland.
On 'This Week' on RTE radio at 1.30pm later to discuss the tariff threat.
On 'This Week' on RTE radio at 1.30pm later to discuss the tariff threat.
If the world's biggest economy puts the sort of tariffs that are being mooted on all countries globally, it will arguably be the biggest economic policy decision in history.
The nuclear option of economic warfare.
125-year history of US tariffs charted below.
The nuclear option of economic warfare.
125-year history of US tariffs charted below.
April 2, 2025 at 9:59 AM
If the world's biggest economy puts the sort of tariffs that are being mooted on all countries globally, it will arguably be the biggest economic policy decision in history.
The nuclear option of economic warfare.
125-year history of US tariffs charted below.
The nuclear option of economic warfare.
125-year history of US tariffs charted below.
And unemployment just keeps falling in Europe. Yet another record low - 5.7% of the workforce is jobless.
The last decade has been quite glorious for the European labour market, after decades of unemployment being a huge problem in many countries and regions.
The last decade has been quite glorious for the European labour market, after decades of unemployment being a huge problem in many countries and regions.
April 1, 2025 at 2:51 PM
And unemployment just keeps falling in Europe. Yet another record low - 5.7% of the workforce is jobless.
The last decade has been quite glorious for the European labour market, after decades of unemployment being a huge problem in many countries and regions.
The last decade has been quite glorious for the European labour market, after decades of unemployment being a huge problem in many countries and regions.
Far more Americans think joblessness will rise that when Covid hit and employment tanked.
March 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Far more Americans think joblessness will rise that when Covid hit and employment tanked.
European policy makers have long fretted about the continent’s savings being invested in the US stock market. Trump may be solving that issue to their satisfaction as capital flows out of American stocks and into Europe.
March 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
European policy makers have long fretted about the continent’s savings being invested in the US stock market. Trump may be solving that issue to their satisfaction as capital flows out of American stocks and into Europe.
Today's full-year figures on asylum applications from Eurostat show that Ireland had the joint fourth highest rate per capita in Europe in 2024, with Iceland even higher curiously.
March 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Today's full-year figures on asylum applications from Eurostat show that Ireland had the joint fourth highest rate per capita in Europe in 2024, with Iceland even higher curiously.
US tariffs announced over the past six weeks represent a bigger increase than in 1930. Discussing this and the wider US geopolitical U-turn in my column.
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
March 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
US tariffs announced over the past six weeks represent a bigger increase than in 1930. Discussing this and the wider US geopolitical U-turn in my column.
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
Meant to include the charting of the World Social Values survey in the @data.ft.com re the discussion of the American right's liking of Russia and Putin.
March 7, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Meant to include the charting of the World Social Values survey in the @data.ft.com re the discussion of the American right's liking of Russia and Putin.
Today's column in The Currency looks at the ideas on the right of America's political spectrum, their influence on the geopolitical U-turn the US has taken under Trump and where this could go from global, European and Irish perspectives.
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
March 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Today's column in The Currency looks at the ideas on the right of America's political spectrum, their influence on the geopolitical U-turn the US has taken under Trump and where this could go from global, European and Irish perspectives.
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
thecurrency.news/articles/181...
Americans expect the US inflation rate to surge to 4.3% by February of next year, and for very good reason (tariffs).
When central bankers see this sort of 'unanchoring' of inflation expectations they start thinking of hitting the (higher) interest rate brake.
When central bankers see this sort of 'unanchoring' of inflation expectations they start thinking of hitting the (higher) interest rate brake.
March 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Americans expect the US inflation rate to surge to 4.3% by February of next year, and for very good reason (tariffs).
When central bankers see this sort of 'unanchoring' of inflation expectations they start thinking of hitting the (higher) interest rate brake.
When central bankers see this sort of 'unanchoring' of inflation expectations they start thinking of hitting the (higher) interest rate brake.
The Wall St Journal's editorial on The Washington Post's change of editorial direction.
February 27, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The Wall St Journal's editorial on The Washington Post's change of editorial direction.
The top 10% of earners do half of the consumer spending in the US. Links to equivalent figures for Europe appreciated, if they exist.
February 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
The top 10% of earners do half of the consumer spending in the US. Links to equivalent figures for Europe appreciated, if they exist.
Lots of talk that European businesses moving to the US for lower energy costs, more opportunity etc.
Foreign direct investment data from recent years don't show any exodus.
In fact, US stock of FDI in Europe grew more last year than visa versa.
Foreign direct investment data from recent years don't show any exodus.
In fact, US stock of FDI in Europe grew more last year than visa versa.
February 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Lots of talk that European businesses moving to the US for lower energy costs, more opportunity etc.
Foreign direct investment data from recent years don't show any exodus.
In fact, US stock of FDI in Europe grew more last year than visa versa.
Foreign direct investment data from recent years don't show any exodus.
In fact, US stock of FDI in Europe grew more last year than visa versa.
Following a surge in Irish goods exports up to November, there was a surprisingly big fall in December. Expected a further increase, as firms could be expected to get product into the US ahead of tariffs. Will be interesting to see what the US data show.
February 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Following a surge in Irish goods exports up to November, there was a surprisingly big fall in December. Expected a further increase, as firms could be expected to get product into the US ahead of tariffs. Will be interesting to see what the US data show.
Article 29:9 of the Irish Constitution rules out Ireland joining common EU defence. A referendum is needed to change this.
February 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Article 29:9 of the Irish Constitution rules out Ireland joining common EU defence. A referendum is needed to change this.
Since the start of the decade, Irish-owned companies have added 14% to numbers on their pay rolls, compared to 11% for multinationals.
Slightly surprised by this as other data suggest stronger jobs growth in foreign multinational-dominated sectors.
Slightly surprised by this as other data suggest stronger jobs growth in foreign multinational-dominated sectors.
February 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Since the start of the decade, Irish-owned companies have added 14% to numbers on their pay rolls, compared to 11% for multinationals.
Slightly surprised by this as other data suggest stronger jobs growth in foreign multinational-dominated sectors.
Slightly surprised by this as other data suggest stronger jobs growth in foreign multinational-dominated sectors.
My latest @thecurrency columns discusses manpower shortages in the defence forces + highlights the huge 50% pay gap between those who serve in the miliary and the police.
An @NTMA_IE-type pay structure might be needed to get and keep the highest skilled.
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
An @NTMA_IE-type pay structure might be needed to get and keep the highest skilled.
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
February 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
My latest @thecurrency columns discusses manpower shortages in the defence forces + highlights the huge 50% pay gap between those who serve in the miliary and the police.
An @NTMA_IE-type pay structure might be needed to get and keep the highest skilled.
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
An @NTMA_IE-type pay structure might be needed to get and keep the highest skilled.
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
Numbers in receipt of jobless benefits in Ireland continues to edge down. Importantly, long term claimants (1 year+) are falling fastest and now account for one third of the total.
February 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Numbers in receipt of jobless benefits in Ireland continues to edge down. Importantly, long term claimants (1 year+) are falling fastest and now account for one third of the total.
Today's column. However regrettable, Ireland will have to spend more to defend itself as our neighbourhood becomes more dangerous.
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
February 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Today's column. However regrettable, Ireland will have to spend more to defend itself as our neighbourhood becomes more dangerous.
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
thecurrency.news/articles/178...
Employment growth across the EU in the past five years has been mixed.
Ireland's 20% jobs growth is astonishing, particularly for a county that had effectively stagnant employment for seven decades to the early 1990s.
Ireland's 20% jobs growth is astonishing, particularly for a county that had effectively stagnant employment for seven decades to the early 1990s.
February 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Employment growth across the EU in the past five years has been mixed.
Ireland's 20% jobs growth is astonishing, particularly for a county that had effectively stagnant employment for seven decades to the early 1990s.
Ireland's 20% jobs growth is astonishing, particularly for a county that had effectively stagnant employment for seven decades to the early 1990s.