Underpinning well-informed and research led work is strong evidence-based and quantitative analysis. The importance of effectively utilising the large and growing numbers of official and private sector quantitative datasets in a focused and practical manner to accurately determine trends in a variety of social and economic projects is a core competence of the Applied Research Centre in Sustainable Regeneration (SURGE). Alongside analysis of traditional quantitative indicators of economic and social well-being such as labour market statistics and neighbourhood statistics, there has in more recent times been a greater appreciation for emerging statistical datasets concerned with local and regional well-being for example, Indices of Segregation and Indices of Deprivation.
At the Applied Research Centre in Sustainable Regeneration we have an excellent track record in successfully undertaking and completing projects with a significant element of quantitative analysis. These projects ably demonstrate the abilities and expertise of the centre, particularly in areas of local and regional research. Within SURGE there are a number of highly regarded, skilled professionals with considerable experience with quantitative datasets and analysis. There areas cover a variety of subjects including but not contained too;
Examples of recent quantitative research projects undertaken by SURGE are provided below. A brief summary of the project, its aims and outcomes are explained. These projects are a sample of the ongoing works and interests of the centre in the quantitative field. For further information on any of these projects or queries about potential research projects with a similar subject matter, please contact the email address provided.
Income tax paper
This joint paper with Professor Andrew Bielenberg and Professor Louis Cullen (Emeritus) is due for submission to the journal of the Irish Economic and Social History group in January 2010. Changes in both the reporting of income tax as well as attitudes surrounding its use over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth century meant that the tax net fluctuated in both range and classification. This paper formed the third section of inter-University symposium examining the role of tax and the accuracy of its collection in estimating Irish GDP for the lat nineteenth and early twentieth century. The introduction of the income tax in the mid-nineteenth century and alterations in the administration and coverage of the tax during the following years impact on their use in the creation of income estimates. Specifically, the unique case of Ireland was considered and solutions offered as to how best integrate data from Irish income tax returns into viable GDP estimates for the years 1853-1914.
GDP estimates
Arising from work first undertaken at University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dr Jason Begley is actively involved in creating GDP estimates for all Ireland during the latter part of the Nineteenth Century and early Twentieth Century. This work is being pursued as part of the ongoing efforts of the Irish Quantitative History Group (IQH) a group of leading Irish economic historians from all areas of the island of Ireland. Jason is a regular contributor of papers to the annual meeting of the group and from work arising from the group’s activities has recently submitted an estimate of Irish GDP for all-Ireland in 1901 to the Economic History Society for its annual conference in 2010, as well as putting it forward for consideration for publication.
Irish wage bill
Dr Jason Begley is also undertaking to create an Irish wage bill for all-Ireland for the years 1854-1911 with the aid of Professor Frank Geary and Professor Tom Stark (Emeritus). Jason’s role is to create a series of wage indices for various occupations categorised within the Census of Population (a decennial publication). These indices utilise a series of marker years which will allow the level of wage fluctuation across a number of years to be accurately determined. This paper is planned for submission to the review of the Economic History Society in 2010.
Analysis of Far Right voting patterns in Local Elections 2000-08
The significant gains made by avowedly right wing parties in United Kingdom local elections in recent years have generated a growing amount of interest and debate. In particular the successes of the British national Party (BNP) in the 2006 local elections, returning initially 33 councillors from 364 candidates, took many political observers by surprise. The rise of right-wing sentiment and support amongst English voters especially generated much response. Originally thought to be a one-off event, the initial dismissal of the BNP’s success as a protest vote did not stand up to closer examination. Of all the minority parties where such a vote could have been registered the BNP achieved the most success, suggesting that support for the party transcended mere dissent. The results of the later elections in 2007 and 2008 indicated that support for Far Right groups was much more ingrained than had previously been suspected.
This report, the third in annual series, provided a brief overview of academic opinion on why Far Right sentiment was enjoying a renaissance, before a detailed quantitative analysis of local election results nationally was undertaken. The outcomes of elections from 2000 to 2008 were considered before a mapping exercise of BNP hotspots nationally was produced. Finally a number of case studies of counties with a strong base of Far Right support were researched and local prevailing reasons for the growth in support advanced. It is our intention to continue producing annual updates on Far Right activities in local, national and European elections, for dissemination amongst city and county councils, as well other stakeholders. In addition it is also our intention to generate academic articles for journal publications with this data.