As usual, this column is going to go for the populist angle and argue for fiscal restraint in Budget 2023 as we learn the budget might be brought forward by a few weeks.  Governments have two ways they can attempt to manage the economy: first, by changing fiscal policy-altering tax and spending decisions; and second, by changing interest rates.  Ireland can’t change interest rates. The substance of our economic conversation therefore circles around fiscal policy.  Politicians don’t like talking about spending decreases, tax increases, the stock of all public spending and taxes, or the efficiency of any of the services…

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