Economy & Finance
Economy
What goods does Northern Ireland export, how much are they worth and where do they go?
This blog post uses the most recent annual data from the HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Regional Trade Statistics [Download: Excel file] to provide an overview of NI’s current position with regard to trade in
From an economic to an industrial strategy
Following on from a recent blog post on ‘a revised strategy for Northern Ireland’s Economy’, this post looks at the Department for the Economy’s draft Industrial Strategy and highlights some of the key similarities and
World Trade Organisation and the implications for Northern Ireland trade
During a House of Commons debate on Article 50 in February 2017, Brexit Minister, David Jones, confirmed that if the UK failed to secure a deal with the EU during negotiations, it would fall back
Employment & Labour Market
How big is the gender pay gap in NI’s public and private sectors?
By Aidan Stennett & Eóin Murphy This article examines the gender pay gap in Northern Ireland: what is it, how is it measured and what is the scale across different sectors?
Economic impact of cuts to the Higher Education sector
Education and training are key factors in economic progress, acting as a means of raising productivity. Whilst other factors can result in short-run economic improvements, education and training are critical to embedding long-term growth. As
The National Living Wage and Northern Ireland
The introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW) could have a number of impacts in Northern Ireland (NI), raising the earnings of those aged over 25, but potentially creating issues for Small to Medium Enterprises
Energy
Is the sun setting on Northern Ireland renewable electricity?
There was considerable growth in the development of renewable electricity over the previous Northern Ireland Assembly mandate. Changes to renewable electricity support may impact the ability to achieve similar levels of growth in the future.
Finance
Who has the power of the purse if the Assembly does not agree a budget?
Piecing together a budget is one of the most fundamental activities of government. But in Northern Ireland (NI) there is currently neither a government nor a budget for the next financial year. Fresh elections have
Autumn Statement 2016: a fiscal molehill?
Has the Chancellor’s statement had the mountainous impact on the Executive’s budget that was expected?
How good are Northern Ireland’s Explanatory and Financial Memoranda?
In the 2011-16 Assembly Mandate, MLAs debated, scrutinised and passed a range of legislation across a number of policy areas – from Mental Capacity to Licensing of Pavement Cafes, from Tobacco Retail to Rural Needs.