Economic comparisons between Northern Ireland and the Republic are few and far between. Perhaps the most eye-catching contribution to the debate has been the suggestion that living standards are 20 per cent higher in Northern Ireland than in the Republic. The gap was primarily down to higher levels of government consumption in Northern Ireland reflecting superior public services such as health. In 1935, Northern Ireland was a net contributor to the British exchequer. There is, however, no real basis for Gudgin’s claim that living standards are 20 per cent higher in the North.

Source: The Irish Times April 18, 2021 11:48 UTC