This report on regional development on the island of Ireland outlines the contrasting economic paths of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland since partition in 1921. Initially more prosperous, the North declined amid conflict and deindustrialisation, while the South modernised, especially during the “Celtic Tiger” era. The report focuses on cross-border cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and economic development, noting limited progress to date. It highlights challenges in the post-Brexit context and stresses the need for stronger collaboration among regional agencies. Recommendations include bottom-up strategies and an oversight body to enhance connectivity and promote balanced economic growth across the island.

Our first published report analyses the tourism industry North and South, including their comparative size and earnings, and potential for more balanced growth. The Republic of Ireland had approximately 4.3 times as many trips by international visitors compared to Northern Ireland in 2019, but 7.6 times as much expenditure, totaling a respective €4,874m in the South and €672m in the North. It is a natural area for cooperation and the report concludes that in order to close the gap with the Republic, public policy needs to move beyond the current levels of cooperation, to build a single tourism offering, in marketing, visa-requirements, tax and regional development policy, and, perhaps most crucially, in the perception of the visitor.