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.

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

  • Recent data from the CSO gives the Irish population at 5.5 million in April 2024 up by 41% since 2001. This is a very rapid rate of population growth. By contrast EU population grew by 5% in the same period. Migration is the key factor and has provided 54% of the total. As is to be expected migration likely also accounts for a high proportion of the increase in jobs. In the year to April 2024 net migration of over 25 year olds, presumably mostly coming to work, was the same as the total increase in employment - 50,000. Over the time since 2001 this age cohort of migrants was equal to about 54% of the increase in employment and suggests about half of employment growth is accounted for by migrants.

  • The latest 'flash' estimates of inflation in August from Eurostat indicates that the decline in inflation, which seemed to be held up in July, has resumed, The rate for the Eurozone was 1.5% in the year to August (2.2% in June and in July). In Ireland the rate was 1.1% (1.5% in June and July). A decline in ECB interest rates, which seemed doubtful last month, now seems certain in September. In the US, where inflation has been around 3% there had been doubts about an interest rate cut. But poor employment figures have changed that so a cut in rates on both sides of the Atlantic now seems imminent.

  • Latest national accounts data for the second quarter of 2024 show that GDP was running 4% below the first half of 2023. Data on Modified Domestic Demand (MDD) a measure of the domestic economy, was slightly worse. However, data on industrial production for July did show an increase on June so maybe the third quarter will see a turnaround. Data on the labour market shows a very tight situation. The rate of unemployment in August was as low as it had been at the peak of the 2007 boom.

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.