ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that a sense of perspective needs to be kept on the matter of the all-Ireland economy. It explores the nature and scale of the north–south cooperation that has unfolded over the past 20 years and to provide an assessment of the economic interdependencies that now exist between the two parts of the island. The chapter explains how the political stand-off between nationalism and unionism on relations between the two parts of the island was recast during the 1990s, a development that enabled north–south cooperation to be included in the Belfast Agreement. Nationalists not only frequently proclaim that developing closer links between the two parts of the island would bring multiple benefits, but also that moves are needed to be made immediately to capture these gains otherwise Northern Ireland will keep on disadvantaging itself. In broad terms, economies of scale refer to the cost advantages organizations gain when they become more efficient.
