Fixing the NI Economy

saverbuyer

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

An 11 billion subsidy is criminal.

Of course we'd survive without it. We'd just be poorer.

Very true. GDP per head in the republic is also nearly twice that of N.I. (not a good measure of wealth granted).

Cotta

The ROI surely couldn't afford us, we're like this really ditzy but expensive girl whom looks great but is only with her man (GB) for his wealth.

qwert_yuiop

GDP is a very deceptive way of calculating the wealth of the south because of the accountancy tricks of the Multi nationals. Apple for instance is widely believed to be a Californian company. It's actually irish for accountancy reAsons.
Some things that you have to pay for down south- school books, school buses, school trips including those to Gaeltacht to learn irish , fire brigade calls ( 500 euro although they don't charge if someone died!), prescriptions unless you're broke , doctor appointments, casualty visit 100
. I could go on a while but it's sunny outside.

Anyway, we and they (the southerners) would be appreciably poorer. It's not a question of us not being affordable- just not at present levels.

I see us more as the fat girl who stuffs herself and claims not to eat a thing.i eat like a bird etc.

warmhands.coldheart

Cotta wrote: »

The ROI surely couldn't afford us, we're like this really ditzy but expensive girl whom looks great but is only with her man (GB) for his wealth.

Like a Derry woman then ?? :rotfl: (Ducks for cover !!!!)

A.L.D.A

I will just throw this into the mix.
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/aug/07/london-gets-24-times-as-much-infrastructure-north-east-england

And the South East economy is doing very nicely.

To sort out the NI economy needs clear policy objectives and a redistribution of tax and spend.

Needs to be easy to set up business, quick to get necessary approvals and some serious pruning of the powers of various bodies that simply add cost. We need to make it as easy as possible to set up a business here and as cheap as possible for start ups.

Scrap most of the grants and unify and focus. The overall cost to the economy applying probably far exceeds the money on offer.

Cut all unnecessary funding, much of it amounts to buying votes. One groups grant is another's tax.

Need to invest in energy production and get unit costs down.

Need to review tax differentials with the south and address where they place us at a disadvantage.

I also believe we have too many layers of government and need to get back to basics, do it simply, efficiently and well. Ditch all the political dogma.

Needs clear strategy and investment year on year to make it happen

Mistral001

This might be a bit off topic, but there is an old-fashioned term which you hear on old news reels and I think I can remember hearing it on TV and radio year ago, but is never heard now. The term I am thinking of is the "Trade Gap". Quaint, isn't it? Not only do we never hear of it, there is no equivalent term mentioned at all as far as I can tell.

After all if we do not make and export we cannot import. NI exports quite a lot but it imports a lot as well. UK does the same, but imports and exports and their difference are never mentioned. Maybe if they were, we would get a true idea of the health of our economy, both in NI and UK and guide us as to how we can fix it.

ballyblack

Some things that you have to pay for down south- school books, school buses, school trips including those to Gaeltacht to learn irish , fire brigade calls ( 500 euro although they don't charge if someone died!), prescriptions unless you're broke , doctor appointments, casualty visit 100...........

And Motoring is much more expensive because of VRT tax etc etc and of course Motorway Tolls

yar_2

Don't worry they know were their bread is buttered as do the rest of us

qwert_yuiop

ballyblack wrote: »

And Motoring is much more expensive because of VRT tax etc etc and of course Motorway Tolls

Fuel is a bit cheaper but car tax is dearer eg ford Mondeo 2 litre 500 euro, big cars can be 1500 euro.
Cars are very much dearer than here - roughly double in euro what the pound cost is here - 5000 pound car here, 10,000 euro there.