A 'history of Ireland's future'. Economics, demography, environment (the effects of 'Peak Oil', and the possibility of Ireland going nuclear) and technology.

In 2050, the hills above Dublin may be crowded with houses, but Kinsella argues that we have to think now about our imagined ends over a 40 or 50 year if we want to get their. That Irish short-termism is no longer a viable way into the future.

---

Product Description

Let's talk about the future. How old will you be in 2050? How old will your children, or nephews and nieces, be? What will you be doing, and where will you be living? How much will a cup of coffee cost? Will you be able to afford it? Ireland in 2050: How We Will Be Living by Stephen Kinsella imagines Ireland forty years from now and predicts and anticipates our daily life and that of the fictional Murphy family. We all have a stake in Ireland's future. Most of us will probably see the year 2050 but we don't necessarily act as though we will. As a country, we face serious threats from economic uncertainty, climate change, inequality, energy security and an ageing population and, contrary to popular belief, technology won't solve all our problems. Marriage, work, leisure, travel, climate, housing, inequality, and government are amongst the many areas investigated by economist Stephen Kinsella, as he discusses, through the fictional Murphy family, how we will go about daily life in 2050. Ireland in 2050 asks some truly vital questions and delivers a fascinating and jargon-free account of the kind of Ireland we might like to have in 2050 and the one we might end up with, if we make the wrong choices now.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #355286 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-30
• Released on: 2009-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 220 pages

Review
The most important Irish book of the decade. --Eoin Purcell - eoinpurcellsblog.com

Everyone should read this book. Stephen's insight into our generation and future path has something in it for everyone. He explains in such a simple manner many concepts that could have been made very difficult to grasp. --Ina O'Murchu

Unlike many literary contributions by economists [this is] immensely readable. If you see a copy, pick it up. --markhamnolan - expad.ie

It's an enjoyable read. And an interesting exercise. And an important one. --ardsonas.wordpress.com

The important thing is that the book is a welcome start to what will hopefully be a deeper, wiser and engaging dialogue about our country and its future. And it is especially important that that dialogue is not confined to politicians. Not just because of their corrosive parochialism, and the lack of foresight that it engenders (everywhere), but also because a small country needs to engage smart people from all walks of life in creating a compelling narrative about our future. I believe that Stephen Kinsella's book will play a key part in helping bring that about. --Gerard O'Neill - turbulenceahead.com

About the Author
Stephen Kinsella is a lecturer in Economics at the University of Limerick. Originally from Dublin, and in his early thirties, he has lived and studied in the US before taking up his position in the Kemmy Business School. His book Ireland in 2050 began as a newspaper opinion piece in the summer of 2008, which sparked a huge response. A regular contributor to national radio and newspapers, he has commented extensively on the current downturn as well regular and provocative pieces in his personal blog. He is married with two young children. Stephen has set up a website www.Irelandin2050.com which he encourages people to join in the conversation about where we are heading. Let's talk about the future.

---

Customer Reviews

The unbelieveable - accessible economics!!
Stephen Kinsella has somehow managed to write an accessible, interesting, but not dumbed down book on Ireland's future. Yes it is economics but not as I would have thought of it before. Picked it up at my girlfriend's flat and she couldn't believe it when I couldn't put it down. The family he created, the Murphys, make everything so much easier to understand and even when he talks economics it's in ways you can understand. Highly recommend this, only fault is that Murphys could even have featured more!