ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think): "ways to alleviate the skills shortage"

Hello All

I am trying to get my hands on an ESRI report from a few years ago. The ESRI was attempting to suggest ways to alleviate the skills shortage and the high demand for employees.

In the report they suggested that commercial organisations should cut back on sales, thereby reducing the level of production / supply of services required, which would reduce in turn the number of employees required.

I remember that it was discussed on Good Morning Ireland, but was not mentioned again as far as I know. It was quite an amusing insight into the public sector view of the commercial world.

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

Have you tried [broken link removed] for it?

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

Square Mile said:

It was quite an amusing insight into the public sector view of the commercial world.

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It's even more amusing to see that some in the commercial world don't recognise the ESRI as [broken link removed].

The ESRI is not a semi-state agency and the Government plays no legal role in appointing the Council. However it is usual for a senior official of the Department of Finance to be elected to serve on the Council.

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Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

Rainy Day

Although the ESRI is not a public sector organisation, it obtains a very large proportion of its funding from public bodies. It is a 'not for profit' organisation, and as such is not subject to the same competitive pressures as those commercial organisations I mentioned earlier.

I don't want a protracted debate on the matter, I was just looking for information. The following extract is taken from the ESRI website, and I think goes some way to supporting my view.

SM

Financial Position
The Economic and Social Research Institute is a not-for-profit company which aims to cover operating costs and to re-invest any surplus income in further research. Total income in 2005 was €9.7 million.

The Institute receives an annual grant-in-aid from the Department of Finance to support the scientific and public interest elements of the Institute's activities, such as:

• Publication of the Quarterly Economic Commentary and the Medium Term Review and the maintenance and development of a macro-economic model;
• Bringing commissioned work to the scientific and academic standard required for publication;
• Methodological research;
• Publicising the ESRI's work in conferences, seminars etc.;
• Participation in public and professional bodies, committees, visiting delegations (IMF, OECD etc.);
• Participation in important EU supported projects and networks where it is assumed that national co-funding is to be available;
• Dissemination of publications at an affordable cost to libraries, universities and the general public;
• Provision of services such as the ESRI library to researchers and the general public.

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

Did you find the report in question in the end? Did the search link help?

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

Square Mile said:

Rainy Day

Although the ESRI is not a public sector organisation, it obtains a very large proportion of its funding from public bodies. It is a 'not for profit' organisation, and as such is not subject to the same competitive pressures as those commercial organisations I mentioned earlier.

I don't want a protracted debate on the matter, I was just looking for information. The following extract is taken from the ESRI website, and I think goes some way to supporting my view.

Click to expand...

I always think it is kind-of funny when people who don't want debate on such matters are quite enthusiastic to put out their own point of view. I can only interpret this as meaning that you really want a 1-sided debate on the matter. So just for the record;

- ESRI is not a public sector organisation
- ESRI does receive funding from public bodies.
- Some of the 'public funding' is competitive, as the ESRI would tender for research contracts against private sector research organisations
- The 'not for profit' sector has many pressures to deal with, albeit different from the typical private sector competitive pressures you mention.

But if you are going to poke a little fun at any organisation, you really should get your facts straight beforehand, not afterwards.

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

Clubman

Thanks a million for the link, I am still scanning through the reports.

Rainyday

Please let it go, I'm not in the mood.

SM

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

If RainyDay's assertions above are true then they certainly blow a hole in part of your original post.

Re: ESRI Report from 2001/2002 (I think)

I strongly doubt if the ESRI ever encouraging a deliberate fall in output.

What they probably said was that in the very strong economic conditions of 1998-2000, the govt should apply contractionary fiscal policies to help prevent overheating of the economy.

This might have the effect of cooling the boom, and slowing the growth of labour demand.

Anyway, commercial organisations, i.e. firms, can't really choose their level of sales.