The End of the Rainbow- The Success of the Irish Economy – Education

Here’s something you probably didn’t know: Ireland today is the richest country in the European Union after Luxembourg.

"I believe this is because there are enough people who remember the very bad times to de-politicize economic development." Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computer

Yes, the country that for hundreds of years was best known for emigration, tragic poets, famines, civil wars and leprechauns today has a per capita G.D.P. higher than that of Germany, France and Britain. How Ireland went from the sick man of Europe to the rich man in less than a generation is an amazing story. It tells you a lot about Europe today: all the innovation is happening on the periphery by those countries embracing globalization in their own ways – Ireland, Britain, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe – while those following the French-German social model are suffering high unemployment and low growth.

Ireland’s turnaround began in the late 1960’s when the government made secondary education free, enabling a lot more working-class kids to get a high school or technical degree. As a result, when Ireland joined the E.U. in 1973, it was able to draw on a much more educated work force.

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/opinion/29friedman.html?hp

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Follow the Leapin’ Leprechaun

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Dublin

There is a huge debate roiling in Europe today over which economic model to follow: the Franco-German shorter-workweek-six-weeks’-vacation-never-fire-anyone-but-high-unemployment social model or the less protected but more innovative, high-employment Anglo-Saxon model preferred by Britain, Ireland and Eastern Europe. It is obvious to me that the Irish-British model is the way of the future, and the only question is when Germany and France will face reality: either they become Ireland or they become museums. That is their real choice over the next few years – it’s either the leprechaun way or the Louvre.

Because I am convinced of that, I am also convinced that the German and French political systems will experience real shocks in the coming years as both nations are asked to work harder and embrace either more outsourcing or more young Muslim and Eastern European immigrants to remain competitive.

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/opinion/01friedman.html?ex=1120881600&en=9dab5d94de6758a0&ei=5070&emc=eta1

(Many thanks to Clint Grimes for passing this along. Russ)