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IRELAND EXPERIENCED one of the sharpest falls in household market income between 2007 and 2010, according to a survey of 30 countries, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today.
The report warns of the growing risk of income inequality in the 30 OECD countries, which has increased by more in the first three years of the recession to 2010 than it had in the previous 12 years.
Compared to countries like Chile, Mexico and Turkey, Ireland’s level of income inequality was relatively balanced though the report said the effect of unemployment was particularly large in Ireland with self-employment income also declining significantly.
The welfare state has “cushioned the blow” for many according to the report but it warns that further social spending cuts in OECD countries risk causing greater inequality and poverty in the years ahead.
Gap between the rich and poor
The richest 10 per cent of the population in the 30 countries countries earned 9.5 times the income of the poorest 10 per cent in 2010, up from 9 times in 2007. The gap is largest in Chile, Mexico, Turkey, the United States and Israel, and lowest in Iceland, Slovenia, Norway and Denmark.
Ireland experienced one of the largest falls in average market income during the period with incomes in poorer households fell by more than 5 per cent.
Between 2007 and 2010, average relative income poverty in OECD countries rose from 13 to 14 per cent among children and from 12 to 14 per cent among youth, but fell from 15 to 12 per cent among the elderly.
Since 2007, youth poverty increased considerably in 19 OECD countries with an increase of 4 per cent in Ireland. Child poverty has risen in 16 OECD countries since 2007, with increases exceeding 2 points in Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and Hungary.
“These worrying findings underline the need to protect the most vulnerable in society, especially as governments pursue the necessary task of bringing public spending under control,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.
“Policies to boost jobs and growth must be designed to ensure fairness, efficiency and inclusiveness. Among these policies, reforming tax systems is essential to ensure that everyone pays their fair share and also benefits and receives the support they need.”
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Course the media over there bear no responsibility for this mess. Purer than driven snow they are. Impartiality and accuracy………
@Skipper Mac: and do the Irish media take responsibility for our current political landscape?
It’s almost a big a mess as it is over there in terms of Health, Housing, Economy, the list goes on…
@Skipper Mac: If course they don’t. You think the Irish media has a hand in this defeat? Nonsense, this is 100% the Tories fault. May’s stupid red lines leading to a deal that pleases no one. The fault is all in Westminster.
@Skipper Mac: Well the media along with the Brexiteers have to share the blame for a no vote in the referendum in 2016.
@Mushy Peas: Hardly the point. The Irish media have not recommended that our nation jump off a cliff in the expectation of a miracle. Many in the U.K. media have done just that and lied through their teeth.
i have great respect for theresa may,there
@Larry Roe: I respect her tenacity but shes’s made a series of disastrous mistakes since taking office that has landed her where she is now. for example, calling a GE, getting into bed with the DUP, doing solo runs with the EU, pandering to the ERG and so on. Time for her to go now.
I was watching last night just after the result and she was getting up to speak and I was thinking wouldn’t it be great if she said
right…f*ck ye all….I’m going home
@Jane: that would have been fantastic. I’m not a Brit gov fan but I think Theresa may is a great woman. She took on an impossible task from Blair. No one could solve the mess
@Patricia Mcnamara: from Blair?? David Cameron, was the Tory PM she took over from when he lost the referendum he foolishly called to put the Euro sceptics in his party to bed..
@Nigel o’Neill: sorry, you are right of course.
@Jane: literaly laughed out loud! That would have been my course of action…
@Patricia Mcnamara: He was right and also kind enough to not mention that there was also another Prime Minister between Blair and Cameron – Gordon Brown.
@Terry McClatchey: true.l am not informed enough.
….The British, a sound group of lads.
Is there anything to be said for another mass?
@Connor Saváge: hi dude
If I were May I think I’d go on a foul-mouthed rant in Parliament then storm out and go on a year long sabbatical in India.
@David A. Murray: What did India ever do to you?
I get the feeling we are all being hood winked by the brits and we are watching a deliberate pantomine.
In england right now on billboards signs on bus stops etc theres all sorts of advice about what to do now for leaving eu. In the background the new post eu rules r being implemented rapidly.
Its like whats happening in parliament is all a fugazi.
Its a remarkable situation.
She must be getting paid a fortune! It’s a no win and all they’re doing is playing games with her and those who elected them. Yer man Mogg had made 17,000,000 pounds out of brexit investments already. She would actually be better off this morning by simply saying, see you all later!
The journalists and media outlets are as useless as that lot in Westminster. They are just as guilty for this whole mess due to sensational journalism. They have absolutely no idea what’s going on either or how to report what’s going on so they just resort to mud-slinging.
The UK have no intelligence with those that have a voice on their behalf.
@2thFairy: Except that some in the U.K. media have been resolute in opposing Brexit by reference to facts and the much derided “expert”. However, your point holds largely true for many in the media and the BBC now derided as the Brexit Broadcasting Corporation. Channel 4 by contrast have engaged in factual reporting. We live in a strange age to be sure.
@2thFairy:
All journalists or do you mean some journalists?
As for: ‘The UK have no intelligence with those that have a voice on their behalf’.
I don’t know what it means, but it’s priceless all the same.
Big Media and especially the Print Media in the UK are so partisan, that they are a huge part of the overall problem that has led everything to this ridiculous point
So….. What’s happening????
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: go back to sleep seanie. Nothin has happened in 2 years no exit
EU is constipated.they can’t shit the UK out.
BANNER HEADLINE WRITERS WORKING OVERTIME.
SEVERAL HEADLINE WRITERS ON VERGE OF SUICIDE
HEADLINE WRITERS UNION THREATENS STRIKE
I’M SICK OF THIS – LET’S GO FOR A PINT
Cut the umbilical EU cord the baby who, will be born will be very handicapped. Let there be an end to brexit.
Great Article, to see an Helicopter view of how the Horror show is being reported :-( I don’t envy our neighbors and also ourselves in how it will impact us
The whole world is watching Westminster and it’s beyond an incompetent embarrassment
These careerist politicians just don’t care about the public just their pensions,expenses,reelection prospect and some obscure delusion of empire….
Just leave the EU
France me old mate ..block up Calais and see how they like a 60 mile tailback
have your say