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What if, for the irish economy???

  • 01-09-2009 12:46pm
    #1
    PYRO#1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 99 ✭✭


    What would happen if we as an island were unable to interact with the outside world. No trade in or out, no travel in or out! Could the island sustain its population? What would be the impact on the economy as a whole? How drastic a change would take place?

    This is just a fun thread so nothing too serious, but worth a think;)

    Oh my god i just realised, NO MORE TEA:eek:


Comments

  • #2
    peasant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    Never mind the tea ...the lights would go out very soon.

    We're not self sufficient when it comes to producing energy but rely heavily on imported fossil fuel.

    The tea bags already on the island would probably last longer than the energy reserves:D


  • #3
    Count Dooku
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,417 ✭✭✭Count Dooku


    Harry Harrison has described everything about Ireland after world crisis and property bubble collapse in 1985 novel “After the storm”
    I have nothing to add


  • #4
    SkepticOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,718 ✭✭✭SkepticOne


    Consumer items like DVD players and computers would become very valuable. Repairing these would become major industries. This happened in Iran after the revolution during sanctions. There would be a lot of ad-hoc DIY solutions as there is in Cuba. Fuel would become extremely expensive. We would probably still be able to feed ourselves but the adjustment of current agriculture to local needs would be difficult and subject to government interference. There would be some manufacturing of things that were formerly imported from countries with much lower wages and costs relative to ireland, but these goods would be expensive and people would learn to do without.


  • #5
    Diarmuid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    SkepticOne wrote: »
    Consumer items like DVD players and computers would become very valuable. Repairing these would become major industries.
    No they wouldn't. 5.7% of energy production in Ireland comes from local sources (peat/hydro/wind). You wouldn't have the electricity to switch on a dvd player, much less watch it.


  • #6
    SkepticOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,718 ✭✭✭SkepticOne


    Diarmuid wrote: »
    No they wouldn't. 5.7% of energy production in Ireland comes from local sources (peat/hydro/wind). You wouldn't have the electricity to switch on a dvd player, much less watch it.
    Are you assuming that there would be no adaptation to the changed conditions? I think we would be left with a situation where electricity, like fuel, becomes very expensive, but there would be an expansion of local sources. People will go to extraordinary lengths to watch TV but the likes of electric cookers and immersion heaters would go.


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  • #7
    Diarmuid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    SkepticOne wrote: »
    Are you assuming that there would be no adaptation to the changed conditions? I think we would be left with a situation where electricity, like fuel, becomes very expensive, but there would be an expansion of local sources. People will go to extraordinary lengths to watch TV but the likes of electric cookers and immersion heaters would go.
    There's certainly would be adaptation. Private use of electricity would practically be banned, electricity kept for hospitals, schools etc...

    Anyways it's not going to happen.


  • #8
    flanzer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,143 ✭✭✭flanzer


    We'd have to start thinking of new potato recipes, cuz if that were to happen, it'll be spuds, spuds and more spuds. That's all we have really


  • #9
    Bannana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 52 ✭✭Bannana


    Specialisation of labour (to a certain degree) would stop. We would have people doing jobs that they are really bad at.... and we would have to all have spud soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kinda hungry now...


  • #10
    leninbenjamin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,983 ✭✭✭leninbenjamin


    read up a bit more on the history of the state, and Dev's isolationist policies, to get an idea.


  • #11
    jmayo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,188 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    SkepticOne wrote: »
    Are you assuming that there would be no adaptation to the changed conditions? I think we would be left with a situation where electricity, like fuel, becomes very expensive, but there would be an expansion of local sources. People will go to extraordinary lengths to watch TV but the likes of electric cookers and immersion heaters would go.

    Ah the dreaded immersion :mad:
    flanzer wrote: »
    We'd have to start thinking of new potato recipes, cuz if that were to happen, it'll be spuds, spuds and more spuds. That's all we have really

    Obviously you haven't kept up with farming since the 1850s or even before since we did actually export corn during the famine years :rolleyes:
    We do grow other things in this country apart form spuds or do you just subscribe to the British tabloid view of us ?
    Bannana wrote: »
    Specialisation of labour (to a certain degree) would stop. We would have people doing jobs that they are really bad at.... and we would have to all have spud soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kinda hungry now...

    See above :rolleyes:
    leninbenjamin wrote: »
    read up a bit more on the history of the state, and Dev's isolationist policies, to get an idea.

    Yep good example.
    Also think of Cuba, but without the good warm sunny weather, the cigars and the half decent healthcare system :rolleyes:

    I am not allowed discuss …



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  • #12
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,229 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    For once we might have a cabinet here on Paddy's day!


  • #13
    Absurdum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    no porn :mad:


  • #14
    ChocolateSauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,892 ✭✭✭ChocolateSauce


    So it would be kind of like it was in the 30's?


  • #15
    ceret
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 189 ✭✭ceret


    flanzer wrote: »
    We'd have to start thinking of new potato recipes, cuz if that were to happen, it'll be spuds, spuds and more spuds. That's all we have really

    Good old spuds, never failed Ireland.


  • #16
    jimmmy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,539 ✭✭✭jimmmy


    peasant wrote: »
    Never mind the tea ...the lights would go out very soon.

    We're not self sufficient when it comes to producing energy but rely heavily on imported fossil fuel.

    The tea bags already on the island would probably last longer than the energy reserves:D

    and very soon the govt would not be able to borrow the 20 billion per annum to keep paying themselves and the public services and everything funded by the govt. Society would break down.


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