The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is a think tank in Dublin, Ireland. Its research focuses on Ireland's economic and social development in order to inform policy-making and societal understanding.
The institute has played a role in national debates since the 1960s, such as joining the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union, undertaking the National Development Plan, and initiating policies to combat poverty.
Roy C. Geary was the founding director of the ESRI (1959–66). The current director is Frances P. Ruane (2006-), who succeeded Brendan Whelan.
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The Economic Research Institute was founded in 1959 (and opened in 1960) by the Irish Government with funding support from the US-based Ford Foundation. Its original purpose was to analyse the data that was being produced by the Central Statistics Office. In 1965, after a review by Danish social scientist Henning Friis, the remit of the organisation was expanded to include social matters, and this was reflected in a change of name to the Economic and Social Research Institute.
The early strengths of the ESRI lay in the field of economics, but this was later extended to sociology. In the 1960s and 1970s, the ESRI was instrumental in helping to build the disciplines of economics, political science and sociology in Ireland - often funding staff and students to attend overseas universities (mainly in the United States). In the late 1980s - as a reflection of the parlous state of the Irish economy at that time - the ESRI received a significant cut in state funding and since then has been involved in a considerable amount of contract research.
Within the field of sociology, the ESRI has made major contributions in the fields of social mobility, income distribution, education,[1] gender studies, labour market studies,[2] and more recently in areas such as ageing, health,[3] migration and sexuality.
Within the field of economics, the ESRI has made major contributions to the study of economic growth, monetary union, public finance,[4] transport,[5] and more recently in areas such as the environment,[6] the housing market,[7] and regulation[8]
The ESRI has been noted for its strength in quantitative research methods, but also criticised for a lack of critical thinking and closeness to government and policy agendas. It is listed by IDEAS/RePEc among the top 20 economic think tanks in the world,[9] and among the world top 10 in tourism economics[10] and intellectual property rights[11]. The ESRI was also highly ranked in a recent assessment of economics research in Ireland.[12]
The ESRI produces monthly surveys of consumer sentiment, employment and vacancies, and house prices. Every quarter it assesses recent trends in the Irish economy and provides a short-term outlook in the Quarterly Economic Commentary.[13] Every two years, the ESRI produces a 20-year forecast for economic development in the Medium-Term Review.[14]
In February 2010, the Institute conceded that mistakes were made in its controversial study into waste policy.[15]
In January 2012, economist Richard Tol left the ESRI, questioning the independence of the group in relation to the funding it receives.[16]