Concentration in manufacturing sector of Republic of Ireland

Abstract

In this paper, the levels and changes in the levels of concentration in Irish manufacturing industries between 1958 and 1968 are examined. With the small size of Irish industry it is to be expected that the manufacturing sector will be substanitally oligopolistic in character. While there is no tendency towards high concentration during the period, the evidence indicates that moderately concentrated industries comprised the major share of manufacturing net output by 1968. It is suggested that this may be partially explained by the ability to exploit scale economies, consequent on growth