The Transition to Internationally Traded Services and Ireland's Emergence as a ‘Successful’ European Region

Abstract

The authors explore Ireland's growing involvement in the world economy. For many years, Ireland's foreign-direct-investment-led (FDI-led) development policy was associated heavily with low-skill, dependent branch plants. However, over the past fifteen years the shift towards internationally traded services notably improved the quality of this investment. This transition allows Ireland an opportunity to alter its position within the world economy. The authors use corporate case studies to demonstrate the extent to which Irish-based affiliates of information and communication technology multinationals now assume more significant positions within their wider corporate networks. In addition, it considers the role of the emerging cadre of Irish managers in enhancing the sustainability of Ireland's FDI-led development model.