Chasing the wind? Half a century of economic strategy documents in Northern IrelandFootnote∗

Our ideas on the economic policy documents in general, and DED (1999) in particular, have gained through discussion with a large number of commentators including Paul Gorccki, Graham Gudgin, Henry Patterson, Mike Smith and John Simpson. We further gained from being supervisors of Graham Brownlow. His forthcoming PhD thesis evaluates the applicability of public choice theory to NI and ROI industrial policy after 1945. We were also fortunate to get useful and detailed comments on an earlier draft of this paper from three of those who had made key contributions to a number of the economic strategics. Namely; Professor Tom Wilson, Sir George Quiglcy and Sir David Fell. We arc also grateful to Dr. David Richardson and Alex Kane for the clerical assistance provided and to the staff of the Library at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, for their assistance in finding the relevant documents. The usual disclaimer applies.

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• Dr. Esmond Birnie is currently on leave of absence and is a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Prof. David Hitchens is on leave of absence to the IPTS Institute, Seville, Spain.
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• Our ideas on the economic policy documents in general, and DED (1999) in particular, have gained through discussion with a large number of commentators including Paul Gorccki, Graham Gudgin, Henry Patterson, Mike Smith and John Simpson. We further gained from being supervisors of Graham Brownlow. His forthcoming PhD thesis evaluates the applicability of public choice theory to NI and ROI industrial policy after 1945. We were also fortunate to get useful and detailed comments on an earlier draft of this paper from three of those who had made key contributions to a number of the economic strategics. Namely; Professor Tom Wilson, Sir George Quiglcy and Sir David Fell. We arc also grateful to Dr. David Richardson and Alex Kane for the clerical assistance provided and to the staff of the Library at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, for their assistance in finding the relevant documents. The usual disclaimer applies.
   Google Scholar