United Irish economy could deliver boost of €36bn

A united Ireland could result in a near €36bn boost to the island’s economy within eight years of unification, according to a study.

Seen as the first major examination of the potential economic effects of an all-island economy, the ‘Modeling Irish Unification’ report — undertaken by Canadian consultancy KLC and University of British Columbia academics, who have carried out similar reports on German and Korean unification — suggests “significant long-term improvement” in the economies of both the North and the Republic resulting from unification.

Its publication is set against the backdrop of continuing debate around Irish economic growth and the looming ‘Brexit’ referendum.