Growing the Economy_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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NTRODUCTION
Almost every industrialised country in the world is doing it. Large and small countries, many withopen economies just like ours. Governments are intervening with a range of stimulus measures toincrease employment, sustain economic activity and to repair markets that have broken down in theface of recession.Except Ireland. Here, the Government is ignoring the damage being done to the economy and topeoples livelihoods by policies that are driving down the economy. They are cutting publicexpenditure and imposing taxes on ordinary peoples incomes. Other governments are not doingthis. For a very good reason. It wont work. In fact, it will only make the situation worse.The fiscal crisis is the result of the economic decline, not the cause. If we treat the symptoms, thedisease will spread. We must address the root cause of the crisis the appalling increase inunemployment, business closures, and the fear over the future which has cut consumer spendingand investment. Only by addressing these issues as a priority can we restore growth to theeconomy, and reduce the fiscal deficit.UNITE is publishing an alternative programme
Growing the Economy
, an ambitious strategy to
create and save over 100,000 jobs
which is key to addressing the economic and fiscal crisis. In thefollowing pages we outline how we can work our way out of the recession.
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We show where we can invest in the economy to create jobs and growth.
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We put forward policies to reform the banking system and get credit flowing.
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And we show from where we can mobilise capital and resources to fund this programme.What we are presenting here is not the last word on an alternative strategy. Rather it is a contributionto an emerging debate a debate over how we can create growth. Hopefully, more will comeforward with new ideas and perspectives.In this way we can wrest control of the agenda from an orthodoxy which has nothing to offer people inthe way of growth, expansion and, most of all, hope.
JIMMY KELLY
Regional Sectary UNITE the Union
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