Covid19 and Inequality in Ireland: Initial Insights

Abstract

The issue of low pay was important before the pandemic but has become even more visible because of unemployment rates and the necessity of government intervention. The data available before the pandemic indicate the consequences of reliance on low pay in certain sectors, from the necessity of cash transfers to reduce high market inequality rates to consistent debt amongst low income households in order to pay bills. My talk focuses on these data and related policy issues, including the predominance of low pay, reliance on cash transfers, low productivity among SMEs, and a skills gap.