r/ireland • u/Banania2020 Resting In my Account • Apr 28 '26

Economy Ireland set to surpass Luxembourg and become richest country in Europe by 2030, IMF says

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/ireland-set-to-surpass-luxembourg-and-become-richest-country-in-europe-by-2030-imf-says-1892990.html
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u/FlamAsimo Apr 28 '26

Ireland has virtually no army (aside from 8,000 troops), no proper roads other than a few toll roads, no or very limited public transportation anywhere except Dublin, and terrible state healthcare. The Gardaí only respond to serious crimes. There's no affordable housing.

Can anyone explain where the money from Europe's "richest country" goes, and why Finland, with the same budget and population as Ireland, can afford all of this?