John D. FitzGerald facts for kids

John Desmond FitzGerald (born 27 October 1949) is a well-known Irish economist. An economist studies how countries manage their money and resources. He used to be a very important person at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Dublin, Ireland. The ESRI is a place where experts study the economy and give advice.

John FitzGerald worked at the ESRI for many years, starting in 1984. Before that, he worked for the Irish government in the Department of Finance for 12 years. He studied history and economics at University College Dublin.

John FitzGerald's Important Roles

John FitzGerald has held many important positions in Ireland and Europe. These roles helped him share his knowledge about the economy.

Working with the Government

He was part of a special group called the Independent Expert Panel Commission. This group advised the government on things like energy. He also served on the Commission of the Central Bank of Ireland, which helps manage Ireland's money.

Other Key Groups

FitzGerald was a member of several other important groups. These included the National Economic and Social Council, which advises the government on social and economic matters. He also worked with the EU Group for Economic Analysis, helping to understand the economy across Europe. He was involved in energy regulation in Northern Ireland and helped plan for renewable energy.

Leading Economic Associations

He was the president of the Irish Economic Association. This is a group for economists in Ireland. He also led EuroFRAME, a group of experts who predict how the economy will change in Europe.

Contributions to Ireland's Economy

John FitzGerald has helped shape Ireland's economic plans in many ways. He gave advice on how Ireland should spend its money and use special funds from the European Union.

Shaping Economic Policy

He also advised on energy policy, which is about how a country gets and uses its energy. He contributed to discussions about Ireland being part of the Economic and Monetary Union. This union means many European countries use the same currency, the Euro.

The ESRI Medium-Term Review

One of his biggest contributions was leading the ESRI Medium-Term Review. This report looked seven years into the future to predict how Ireland's economy would grow. It was published every few years and was very important for planning. He worked on this review until he retired from the ESRI in 2014.

Understanding Economic Challenges

Economists try to predict what will happen in the future, but it's not always easy.

The Irish Credit Bubble

John FitzGerald has talked about how difficult it was to fully predict the effects of the "credit bubble" in Ireland. A credit bubble happens when people borrow too much money, often for things like houses, and prices go up very fast. When the bubble bursts, prices fall, and it can cause problems for the economy.

The ESRI had warned about risks in Ireland's growth as early as 2005. By 2006, they were using the term "property bubble" to describe the fast-rising house prices. While their 2008 forecast suggested a softer landing, the actual impact of the credit bubble was more severe.

Writing and Family Life

Besides his work as an economist, John FitzGerald is also a writer. He writes articles and columns for Irish financial newspapers about different economic and social topics.

His Famous Family

John FitzGerald comes from a very well-known family in Ireland. His father was Garret FitzGerald, who was the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland. His grandfather, Desmond FitzGerald, was also an important politician. John FitzGerald is married to Eithne FitzGerald, who was also a government minister. His brother, Mark FitzGerald, helped start a large real estate company in Ireland.

See also

• Economic and Social Research Institute