Services

Public Sector Economics: Government policy and programme evaluation, reviews of the performance of state companies, case making to Government on behalf of private enterprises, local and community groups and trade associations.

Services

Public Sector Economics: Government policy and programme evaluation, reviews of the performance of state companies, case making to Government on behalf of private enterprises, local and community groups and trade associations.

Project File

Examples of recent work by Dorgan Associates in the main fields of specialisation of the company.

Project File

Recent Work

Economic Evaluation of Investment in University Expansion

Recent Work

For Munster Technological University, a Cost Benefit Analysis of a proposal for a major expansion at the Bishopstown campus and a related evaluation of  the economics of a refurbishment of the original building.

Commentary

  • SLOW DOWN IN ECONOMY IN 2023 TO BE FOLLOWED BY RECOVERY THIS YEAR AND NEXT. Slower growth in the world economy in 2023 took its toll of the Irish economy, especially the foreign owned sector. But there is general agreement amongst economic forecasters that this year and next will see a recovery with growth rates of 2.5% to 2.5% depending on which measure is used and who is doing the forecasting. The situation with respect to inflation is very positive. This year will see the rate of increase in consumer prices more than half from 2023's rate.

  • OECD REPORT ON IRISH EDUCATION: The OECD published on 5th December a report on educational attainments in 81 countries throughout the world. Ireland comes out extremely well. In the three subjects examined, Maths, Reading and Science, Ireland is in tenth place on the first and third and in second place on Reading. That means are children are better then the Germans (for example) at Maths, the English at Reading, and the Americans at Science. Scores have dropped everywhere since the last report (in 2018) possibly as a result of Covid. But Irish results have fallen less than the average and in Science we have improved. There are also indicators that gender and social inequality is less marked in Ireland than in the other countries. The report marks a major success.

  • INFLATION The inflation figure for the US for March has turned out to be a disappointment. A slight increase of 0.1% had been expected, which itself was not great. But the increase was 0.2% bringing the figure to 3.5%. Expectations of an early fall in official rates have been dampened. The fundamental problem is that the US economy has rebounded energetically from Covid. With the 2% target still some distance away the monetary lid will have to be kept on for a bit more. In Europe the inflation figures are better: March saw a rise of 2.4%, down from 2.6% in February. The Irish figures for the CPI are also better from 3.4% in February to 2.9% in March. However, the better EU inflation situation reflects a sluggish economy - the opposite to the US. Even so, it seems that cuts in the ECB rates are not imminent. It would seem that the folk in Frankfurt remain to be convinced that inflation is under control.

Dorgan Associates provides management and economic consultancy to clients in the private and public sectors both in Ireland and abroad. The firm provides a wide range of  services in the areas of public sector economics, programme and policy evaluation, cost benefit analysis, sectoral studies and economic and social research.