Ireland’s government has an unusual problem: too much money
A tax windfall has added to already overflowing coffers
Across Europe fiscal policy is causing headaches. The governments of Britain and France are both raising tax rates sharply. Germany is hobbled by a self-imposed debt brake. Meanwhile, Italy’s profligate borrowing continues to unsettle investors. Ireland faces a different problem: the government is so flush with cash it does not know quite what to do with it.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “A nice problem”
Finance & economics November 2nd 2024
- America’s glorious economy should help Kamala Harris
- American men are getting back to work
- Donald Trump would leave Asia with only bad options
- Why China needs to fill its empty homes
- Ireland’s government has an unusual problem: too much money
- Sin taxes are suffering from a shortage of sinners
- Will bond vigilantes come for America’s next president?
- Greenland faces one of history’s great resource rushes—and curses
Discover more
Trump wastes no time in reigniting trade wars
Canada and Mexico look likely to suffer
How Trump, Starmer and Macron can avoid a debt crunch
With deficits soaring, their finance ministers will have to be smart
What Scott Bessent’s appointment means for the Trump administration
The president-elect’s nominee for treasury secretary faces a gruelling job
What Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders get wrong about credit cards
Forget interest rates. Rewards are the real problem
Computers unleashed economic growth. Will artificial intelligence?
Two years after ChatGPT-3.5 arrived, progress has been slower than expected
Should investors just give up on stocks outside America?
No, but it is getting a lot harder to keep the faith