Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Business

Department

Organisation & Professional Development

First Advisor

Angela Wright

Abstract

From protectionism to globalisation, the success of the Irish economy over the last 100 years cannot be understated. At the centre of this growth has been a highly educated workforce employed by large volumes of foreign owned companies that have been attracted to Ireland for many reasons, including the country’s favourable Corporate Tax rate. Despite the success of the economy, Ireland’s approach to attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is often criticised and cited as one of the root causes for the financial imbalances in the world today. This new study examines Ireland’s unique relationship with FDI with a particular focus on employment within the Life Science sector in an attempt to debunk many of the associated misconceptions in relation to growth of the Irish economy. To answer the main research question on the influence of FDI in Ireland, a qualitative methodology was applied. Ten face to face, semi structured interviews were completed with industry experts from the Life Science sector in Ireland and a detailed review of all relevant literature was also completed. Once all data was collected, analysis was then conducted, and all findings were presented. Surprisingly this study reveals that although FDI is attracted to Ireland due the favourable tax rates, the role of education in maintaining these investments is drastically understated. Furthermore, this study also highlights the importance of investing in education and the need for government generosity to offset the growing levels of income inequality within the developed world. Considering these findings, this research will be of benefit to all stakeholders interested in retaining FDI in Ireland, this includes Government bodies, educational departments, Trade Union representatives and management within the Life Science companies in Ireland.

Access Level

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Download

Included in

Business Commons

Share

COinS