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ECON20060

Academic Year 2026/2027

Irish Economy: Policy Making in a Global Context (ECON20060)

Subject:
Economics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Economics
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ciara Whelan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module examines how Ireland’s economy has evolved since independence, and how policy makers respond to ongoing challenges in a small, open economy. In recent decades, Ireland’s economy has moved from the Celtic Tiger boom through recession and recovery, followed by the challenges arising from Brexit, a global pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, the need for sustainable development, and changes in international trade and US policy.

Ireland’s economic performance is shaped by government policy within the context of domestic and international developments. Looking at the evolution of the Irish Economy, from Independence to the present day, provides an important backdrop for our analysis of contemporary issues. Using a framework for policy analysis, we consider the rationale for intervention, the policy instruments available, whether policies achieve their objectives, possible unintended consequences, and the implications for efficiency, equity and sustainability. The Care Economy is examined as an important topic in its own right, but it also provides a useful link across many wider policy issues. We then apply the framework to Ireland’s manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, education, and inequality and poverty. A distinctive feature of the module is the integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across teaching, learning and assessment.



Recommended textbook:
O'Hagan, John , Francis O’Toole and Ciara Whelan (eds): The Economy of Ireland: Policy Making in a Global Context (15th edition), 2025, Bloomsbury

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Identify and interpret key sources of information on Irish economic policy issues.
2. Apply economic reasoning to evaluate public policy in Ireland.
3. Assess the potential impacts of policy making on the SDGs - across the various Social, Economic, Environmental and Governance pillars of Sustainable Development.

Indicative Module Content:

* The Evolution of the Irish Economy – from Independence to the present day, highlighting the turning points that have shaped policy, growth, employment and living standards, and the lessons these experiences provide for policy today.

* A Framework for Policy Analysis – outlining the role of the State, the rationale for intervention (market failures, distributional concerns and other policy objectives), the policy instruments available (taxation, spending, regulation and other tools), and the different levels of government (national, EU and international).

* Sustainable Development – adding sustainability to the traditional policy criteria of efficiency and equity, and considering the interlinkages between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Applying the Framework – to examine key policy issues and pressing challenges in the following areas:
* the Care Economy – paid and unpaid care, its wider economic importance, and the role of policy
* Ireland’s manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors
* Education
* Inequality and poverty.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Advanced Beginner

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Total

112

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- Lectures are delivered in person. Recordings of lectures will generally be made available afterwards to support note-taking and revision.

- Current articles, data and policy debates will be referenced where relevant, allowing students to apply module concepts to contemporary issues.

- ‘Test Yourself’ questions are provided for each topic to help students check their understanding and keep up to date with the material.

- Students are required to write a Policy Brief on a contemporary issue relevant to the Irish economy, applying the policy-analysis framework developed in the module. This supports independent research, application of knowledge and policy-writing skills.


Use of AI:
AI may be used for brainstorming, background research and clarification, structure, and language editing/proofreading. It must not write the Policy Brief for the student or generate the substantive economic analysis, interpretation or arguments.
Ultimately, the student must bring all parts of their research together and must themselves write an up-to-date Policy Brief in a coherent way, drawing on module materials and supplemented by research, articles, data and statistics from cited credible sources.
Any use of AI must be explicitly acknowledged.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

A knowledge of basic Principles of Microeconomics and of Macroeconomics is recommended for this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Policy Brief assignment during the trimester Week 6 Graded No
20
 No
Exam (In-person): Final written exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
80
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Short summary feedback is provided to students individually along with their assignment grade. Students also have the opportunity to then attend 'Feedback Office Hours' for additional feedback, if they wish to.

Recommended:
O'Hagan, John , Francis O’Toole and Ciara Whelan (eds): The Economy of Ireland: Policy Making in a Global Context (15th edition), 2025, Bloomsbury

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
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