I do not have any links with either Fine Gael or George Lee. I do think he merits special consideration from Economists as he is likely to be a key player in the shape of the economic policy of the current main opposition party. His maiden speech to the Dail is available on the link below. As one might expect, he seemed in command of economics in a way that will make him an interesting, though now partisan, figure in the national economic policy debate. A lot of his speech focused on the psychological and social cost of unemployment. In terms of economic policy, he argued that unemployment and private sector debt have been neglected from the debate and that he was going to contribute to correcting this. I will be watching with very strong interest as to how he follows up on this.
11 replies on “George Lee”
Liam,
George Lee’s Barrington Lecture in 1989 was on hysteresis, so it might be a long standing interest. http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/2839.
Extremely interesting, reading the discussion of Profs Fitzgerald and Neary appended to George’s Barrington piece. Neither of them seemed too impressed with his contribution, at least in 1989. Was there any further work done on the subject since?
He incorrectly conflated the live register with unemployment. So does everyone else of course.
@ James C
Given his audience, I doubt he’ll be quite as accurate as we might like from now on. He’s likely just aiming to be concise and compelling, which he accomplished imo.
@James Conran,
Yes, it didn’t take long for him to leave his economist credentials at the door.
It may be sufficient if he is honest and has no truck with developers.
Economics professionals did not stop the GFC. They helped to feed it. There is far too much of the ‘unexpected results” about economics and cosmology. Both are ferocious academic hothouses with Nobel winners galore, yet we do not seem to benefit from their expertise. Emperor has few clothes?
Veronica, over 400,000 on State welfare from a labour force of over 2m, is startling news enough without rabbiting on about the household survey.
Any change from the pool of clientism, nepotism, gombeenism and poltroonism, should be welcome!
Why do some in the economics profession seem to be putting faith in George Lee’s ability as an economist elected to the Dáil?
Within his party, we have had Garret FitzGerald, Alan Dukes and Richard Bruton. Within the Labour Party we have Joan Burton, an accountant.
These people have not prevented what I regard as a a similar policy mistakes being made in recent years as during the 1970s and 1980s – maybe even during the 1950s and 1960s too.
As Brendan suggested in the IIndependent on Thursday last, our way of governing ourselves is not conducive to avoiding economic boom& bust.
“All countries, however well-governed, have occasional failures. But some — indeed many — are more or less permanent failures. Economic stability and good governance are the exception rather than the rule. In Ireland’s case, the economy has been wrecked twice in just 30 years. That is more than coincidence. It is Oscar Wilde’s carelessness, and it will probably happen again unless the country’s politics can be conducted on a very different basis. ”
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/brendan-keenan/government-is-entitled-to-take-the-view-that-the-public-is-wrong-1769463.html
Why lay it all on George to get it sorted out in his first week in the Dail?
@ Donal O’Brolchain
Hear, hear!
Frau Merkel follows an Iron tradition, won on the bodies, lost savings and very existence of the German middle classes, into which vacuum was sucked all resistance to National Socialism. All we need is honesty and a willingness to represent us. The rich seem well represented at the moment. Give the middle classes a go! France in 1789 was another country without a middle class……
Compared to Brian Cowen ,Angus O snodaigh, and the majority in the Dail George Lee is an intellectual genius.In 1977 fianna fail overspending and recklessness in pandering to populist tendences led to the near bankruptcy of the Country and lo and behold they have done it again!Gombeenism is Fianna Fail,cronyism is Fianna Fail,The galway tent is fianna fail,Anglo is or Was (SINCE ITS KAPUT)Fianna fails developer bank,Incompetance is not exclusive to fianna fail but lets face it, They are the champs
Congrats to George Lee,hope he does well,fair play to him!man of integrity.