Jim, thank you for addressing the concern I raised regarding your recent written piece on the housing issues in Ireland and the related rise of Sinn Fein. I apologise for antagonising you. You have made your position on Sinn Fein perfectly clear and I know that you believe that their election to government would be a retrograde step for this modern successful country. I did not intend to cause irritation or to suggest you had miscommunicated or communicated badly. My sole intention is to be clear that all those who believe that Sinn Fein would be a poor choice to lead a government should not participate in explaining why, in the face of a housing shortage, young people are willing give SF a try. Let's leave the the shinners explain themselves and their policies. I strongly believe it is incumbent on economists, centrist politicians and reasonably-minded commentators to explain the reasons for the present issues with housing. It is also important to point out why SF's housing, taxation and regulatory policies will be a seriously retrograde step for housing and for the wider economy. I know that you and Chris frequently do this and I thank you for doing so.
We should expect professionals (or any agent) to extract their rent. I suppose they are collectively bargaining and sharing monopoly profits. Perhaps it owes to their hybrid position as labour and firms. Antitrust-style intervention is unacceptable because the principle would extent to breaking up school teacher's unions, etc. If true firms (say corner shops) did this, competition authorities would be all over it. Alternatively, I guess consulting professions have a supply shortage. In that case it comes down Ireland's "same old problem", a lack of long term planning and investment in the future. A question would be whether interest groups are lobbying to keep supply down.
In short, double the capacity in dental & medical schools, etc.
Love the episode as always - in particular Jim’s “pull no punches” Deranged comment😂
On a more serious note - the incursion by Putin & his unfriendly supporters into Ukraine is indeed worrying. His ego and self-delusion could well lead to a much broader military remit, and as such there will not be political or economic certainty for quite some time😢
Meanwhile our government parties are plainly in the land of the money tree!! While SF believe there are forests of these mythical trees all over Ireland 🇮🇪
Great circumstances for debate but not for living and thriving.
Jim, thank you for addressing the concern I raised regarding your recent written piece on the housing issues in Ireland and the related rise of Sinn Fein. I apologise for antagonising you. You have made your position on Sinn Fein perfectly clear and I know that you believe that their election to government would be a retrograde step for this modern successful country. I did not intend to cause irritation or to suggest you had miscommunicated or communicated badly. My sole intention is to be clear that all those who believe that Sinn Fein would be a poor choice to lead a government should not participate in explaining why, in the face of a housing shortage, young people are willing give SF a try. Let's leave the the shinners explain themselves and their policies. I strongly believe it is incumbent on economists, centrist politicians and reasonably-minded commentators to explain the reasons for the present issues with housing. It is also important to point out why SF's housing, taxation and regulatory policies will be a seriously retrograde step for housing and for the wider economy. I know that you and Chris frequently do this and I thank you for doing so.
Thanks Mark. Appreciate all feedback.
We should expect professionals (or any agent) to extract their rent. I suppose they are collectively bargaining and sharing monopoly profits. Perhaps it owes to their hybrid position as labour and firms. Antitrust-style intervention is unacceptable because the principle would extent to breaking up school teacher's unions, etc. If true firms (say corner shops) did this, competition authorities would be all over it. Alternatively, I guess consulting professions have a supply shortage. In that case it comes down Ireland's "same old problem", a lack of long term planning and investment in the future. A question would be whether interest groups are lobbying to keep supply down.
In short, double the capacity in dental & medical schools, etc.
Love the episode as always - in particular Jim’s “pull no punches” Deranged comment😂
On a more serious note - the incursion by Putin & his unfriendly supporters into Ukraine is indeed worrying. His ego and self-delusion could well lead to a much broader military remit, and as such there will not be political or economic certainty for quite some time😢
Meanwhile our government parties are plainly in the land of the money tree!! While SF believe there are forests of these mythical trees all over Ireland 🇮🇪
Great circumstances for debate but not for living and thriving.