Ireland's emerging information economy: Recent trends and future prospects

This paper examines the emergence of information economy related activity through inward investment and the indigenous sector in one of Europe's most peripheral regions. Ireland's recent economic resurgence has benefited considerably from international corporate restructuring as US multinationals in particular reconfigured their operations within Europe's single market. Despite the on-going concern about over-dependence on FDI, policy makers in Ireland seek to ensure that both skills and infrastructural requirements are adequately provided in order to solidify Ireland's attractiveness for investment while, at the same time, encouraging the growth of indigenous high technology companies. Although internationally traded services sectors such as software, financial services, telemarketing and shared services have expanded considerably in recent years, the overall level of regionalization of these activities within the country has been disappointing to date.