How Europe's Poorest Country Became Its Richest In 30 Years

Our planet doesn't have many countries that are able to reach an economic growth of almost 8%. Even China quite recently was able to increasing its GDP by "only" 6.9% and it expects to stay at that level in the best case for the next few years. Several decades ago, this country's main city was a third rate hovel and was considered backwards and in the past with unbelievable unemployment and a national debt.
#Pandora US#

[costinhalaicu]

Ireland was not Europe's poorest country in the past 30 years, not even by a long shot.

[markofsaltburn]

Dublin had a few problem areas, but it was never a “3rd world hovel”. I was there before the economic miracle when the country was challenged by emigration, unemployment, AIDS and heroin, but apart from being a little rickety and stagnant in places it was still a cultured, welcoming, enjoyable, attractive and safe place to stay, with good public transport (DART had recently opened) and a sizeable middle class.

[who]

I don't think Ireland has ever been Europe's poorest country, not for 150 years at least.

[kaloarepo]

I'm sure that Ireland was not Europe's poorest country 30 years ago -that "honor'probably goes to such places as Albania, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria etc.Perhaps they mean western Europe?

[timlinator]

My dad left Ireland when he was 17. Ireland was very poor then, now it is not. I'm tempted to reverse that migration and move there.

[tomjohnston]

Have I ever been to Ireland? You obviously haven't. Iceland is a cold country, Ireland is a temperate country, the temperature rarely gets below zero, they hardly ever get snow. The influence of the warm Gulf Stream raises Ireland's temperature to 9 degrees more than any country on the same latitude. He skipped over major historical reasons for Ireland's poverty and immigration, all caused by Britain's cruel domination of the country. And, he's made a video that would annoy any real Irishman. You can tell this video was made for the 'corporate' generation, you may notice that the film is totally soulless and lacking in any kind of humanity.

[abseiduk]

But in this new globalised world being a super rich country doesn't have the full meaning as it once used to, many multinational companies set up base in "tax havens" and consequently push the GDP to record heights with citizens benefiting only marginally.

[Dubcel]

A few factual errors there.
1. Population comparison between Ireland in 19th century and Republic of Ireland now is misleading, to be appropriate one needs to include Northern Ireland now/1960, or exclude it from the 19th century figure.
2. Ireland does not have the lowest corporate tax rate in Europe. Hungary is much lower.
3 UK/IRL trade war impoverished both countries pre and post war. Ireland by more.
4 reducing taxes did not automatically unlock the economy’s potential. A 1970’s populist manifesto reduced taxes gave a short term boost, and then exacerbated the 1980’s recession by shackling the economy with a strangling national debt.
5 R&D credits not a uniquely Irish policy.

[bestirishmusic]

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle as the landscape is so green. Also recognised as one of the countries with the friendliest people in Europe.
Got to see it to believe it!
🇮🇪 Come visit! 🇮🇪

[brianodowd]

The weather is never very cold or very hot. It doesn't rain all the time, it does rain a lot but there are also a lot of sunny days. It was never the poorest country in Europe. We are rich now but not as long as our European neighbours so we have a lot of catching up to do regarding infrastructure. We are highly educated, any vox pop will tell you that compared to UK and US. If people emigrate now it's not from necessity but choice and wanderlust. We are now a land of immigration, 17% of our population is foreign born and are welcomed by most people. We have a shortage of labour and will need more immigrants after the pandemic. This is my take on my country today. I am 68 and indeed Ireland has transformed utterly in my life time, mostly for the better.

[lev]

When he said 70M people has roots from this country, I knew it's Ireland.

[Jokkkkke]

All of this is complete bogshite. Firstly, Ireland was not Europe's poorest country in the twentieth century, not by a long shot (see Lithuania, Soviet Union, etc.). Secondly, its current GDP is also highly inflated by the way money moves into the country, by which I mean it comes in from huge multinationals and then just sits there untaxed or gets moved to a place like the Bahamas. Thus, Ireland's 2021 median income adjusted for purchasing power parity is actually a modest but still admirable $14, 520, making Ireland just part of the top 20 but still lower than the UK amongst many other European countries. This is partly due to the extremely high prices for nearly everything in Ireland, especially Dublin. For example, a pint in Dublin often costs €8. Lastly, higher education is by no means free when compared to other countries like the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Scotland, etc. A bachelor's from a reputable Irish university can cost between €2k-10k, which is good by US standards but shit by the standards of much of Western Europe. I also know many Irish people who came to do their master's here in the Netherlands because its far cheaper than back home. Ireland is lovely and the people are absolutely amazing, but its not the paradise that the highly misleading figures suggest

[suhailshafi]

This is an absolutely fascinating documentary about a beautiful and fascinating country. But it is not factually true to say Ireland was Europe's poorest country. It certainly was not the poorest country in Europe.

[RW-nrbh]

Ireland is a comfortable and prosperous nation now, it's come a long way in a short time, but in terms of GDP it's nowhere near Luxembourg.
It also never was as bad as made out here, the country had reasonably advanced infrastructure in some respects; it was the first country in the world to have a national grid for electricity. Opportunities were often limited, but living standards not altogether bad, I know of families who lived in far better housing in Ireland than they subsequently lived in after moving to Lancashire for better opportunities.

[fobbitguy]

It gladdens my heart to hear the state of modern Ireland. As a child I listened to my grandmother's stories of the destitution of her childhood in Ireland and her flight to the US.

[dt]

I'll tell you why Ireland became what it is, it's because it has the kindest people in the world. In Canada I lived in a building for a while in which nobody was talking to one another. People can be vicious. For no reason at all I became disliked by my neighbors and was subject to gossip and didn't even understand why. And then one day a couple who had moved from Ireland invited me over when nobody else wanted to even talk to me. They told me that the neighbors gossip about me and when they asked why nobody could even explain why they dislike me. So they decided to befriend me just cuz I needed a friend. When you have people that nobody dislikes, because they're just and generous and have social skills, all the rest can be improved.

[hannahschultz]

Investing in cryptocurrency is the best way of getting ahead to build wealth, investing remains a priority. The stock market has plenty of opportunities to earn a decent payouts, with the right skills and proper understanding of how the market works.

[capt.lovestarii]

It's strange how poeple don't associate Ireland with pharma but as Pandora correctly points out, it's a global biotech powerhouse with a lot of the big guns in the south around Waterford and Cork.

[johndell-robertson]

I’ve never been across the sea to Ireland and fear that I’ve left it too late. What a blessing it must be to be Irish. Thank you for your program that magnified the beauty of the emerald isle

[kmfw]

The street scene at 10:49 is of Northern Ireland, hence the BT phone boxes and prices in pounds sterling, which being under British rule, didn't get to benefit from lower tax rates set in Dublin, though local politicians have sought control of corporation tax.