President Higgins and economics

The dismal science

Sir, – Kathy Sheridan takes issue with President Higgins’s recent criticism of economists (“President’s lofty words are wedded to old, outdated ideas”, Opinion & Analysis, May 3rd).

When I think of economists (which is as rarely as possible), I always recall the reputed quote of George Bernard Shaw: “If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.” I find the same rule applies to President Higgins’s speeches. – Yours, etc,

KEVIN O’SULLIVAN,

Letterkenny,

READ MORE

Co Donegal.

Sir, – President Michael D Higgins is right to challenge the obsession with economic growth. Insisting on a narrowly defined GDP growth in the context of a worsening climate chaos is like insisting on the Titanic keeping its direction and speed even when knowing that a fatal iceberg is ahead. – Yours, etc,

MARTIN SOKOL,

Department of Geography,

Trinity College Dublin,

Dublin 2.