THE COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF BUSINESS SERVICES IN NORTHERN-IRELAND AND THE REPUBLIC-OF-IRELAND

Comparisons are made between firms in five business service industries located in the two parts of Ireland. The focus is on explaining the d ifferential performance of the business services sector in the two are as, Matched comparisons show independent offices grow at the same rate though RoI sample firms are characterised by higher charge-out rates and higher sales per head. Comparisons of supply-side characteristics show few differences in the basic capability of firms, Attention is dr awn to the dependence of the industry on Irish demand and the low leve l of cross-border trade, Consideration is given to how to increase tra de between NI and the RoI and to increase the competitive advantages o f firms in order to penetrate markets outside Ireland, Future opportun ities for the sector are considered in the light of the outbreak of pe ace and deeper cross-border integration.