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Economics Staff Listing

Mr. STEPHEN MCNENA

B.Comm. M.Econ.Sc. PG Cert in Teaching

Contact Details

UNIVERSITY TEACHER
Room 233
Cairnes Building
NUI Galway
T: Ext. 3053
E: stephen.mcnena@nuigalway.ie
Lecturer
Economics discipline
T: +353 91 493053
E: stephen.mcnena@universityofgalway.ie
www.localauthorityfinances.com
 
researcher
 

Biography

I hold a B.Comm. and a M.Econ.Sc. from NUI Galway.  In my teaching, I aspire to engage students with economics and economic concepts.  I show how economics can explain and help solve many challenges facing society. 

I lecture on the BA (Child, Youth and Family Studies) programme, as well as delivering economics modules to Arts, postgrad and online students.

I was based at St. Angela’s College, Sligo, a college of NUI Galway, between 1998 and 2019, where I taught on the B.Ed. in Home Economics, Nursing and Access programmes.

I am involved in research on local government economics with colleagues in NUI Galway, and collaborators from other universities.

Research Interests

Since 2013 I have become involved in researching Local Government economics, with Dr. Gerard Turley, and internal and external collaborators.  We have a website to display some of our research into the economics of local government:
www.localauthorityfinances.com

My areas of research interest include public finances, taxation and the welfare state, as well as transport policy, especially public transit.

Previous projects include a socio-economic analysis of regions of Ireland (2012) and an evaluation of Ballinasloe marina on behalf of Ballinasloe Town Council and Galway County Council (2013).

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
STEPHEN McNENA GENERAL RESEARCH ACCOUNT 01-MAR-19 28-FEB-29

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Equalisation transfers and local fiscal capacity: A new methodology for Ireland'
Turley, G., McNena S. (2021) 'Equalisation transfers and local fiscal capacity: A new methodology for Ireland'. The Economic And Social Review, 52 (1):53-74 [Details]
(2020) 'A reassessment of local government’s financial position and performance: The case of Ireland'
Gerard Turley, Rémi Di medio and Stephen McNena (2020) 'A reassessment of local government’s financial position and performance: The case of Ireland'. Administration, 68 (2):1-35 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Local government funding in Ireland: Contemporary issues and future challenges'
Turley, G; McNena, S (2019) 'Local government funding in Ireland: Contemporary issues and future challenges'. Administration, 67 (4):1-26 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Austerity and Irish local government expenditure since the Great Recession'
Turley, G., McNena, S., and Robbins, G. (2018) 'Austerity and Irish local government expenditure since the Great Recession'. Administration, 66 (4):1-24 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Optimum Territorial Reforms in Local Government: An Empirical Analysis of Scale Economies in Ireland'
Gerard Turley, John McDonagh, Stephen McNena, Arkadiusz Grzedzinski (2018) 'Optimum Territorial Reforms in Local Government: An Empirical Analysis of Scale Economies in Ireland'. The Economic And Social Review, 49 (4):463-488 [Details]
(2016) 'An Analysis of Local Public Finances and the 2014 Local Government Reforms'
Turley, G.and McNena, S. (2016) 'An Analysis of Local Public Finances and the 2014 Local Government Reforms'. The Economic And Social Review, 47 (2):299-326 [Details]
(2016) 'Benchmarking the financial performance of local councils in Ireland'
Robbins G., Turley G., and McNena S. (2016) 'Benchmarking the financial performance of local councils in Ireland'. Administration, 64 (1):1-27 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'A Needs and Resources Assessment of Fiscal Equalisation in the Irish Local Government System'
Turley, G., Flannery, D. and McNena, S. (2015) 'A Needs and Resources Assessment of Fiscal Equalisation in the Irish Local Government System'. The Economic And Social Review, 46 (3):459-484 [Details]
(2015) 'A Framework to Measure the Financial Performance of Local Governments'
Turley, G., Robbins, G., McNena, S. (2015) 'A Framework to Measure the Financial Performance of Local Governments'. Local Government Studies, 41 (3):401-420 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'From boom to bust? The financial performance of city and county councils'
Robbins, G., Turley, G. and McNena S. (2014) 'From boom to bust? The financial performance of city and county councils'. Administration, 62 (1):119-151 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Budget Institutions for Subnational Fiscal Discipline: Local Fiscal Rules in Post-Crisis EU Countries'
Gerard Turley, Christian Raffer and Stephen McNena (2021) 'Budget Institutions for Subnational Fiscal Discipline: Local Fiscal Rules in Post-Crisis EU Countries' In: Local Public Finance: An International Comparative Regulatory Perspective. Switzerland: Springer. [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Financing Local Government in the Twenty-First Century: Local Government Revenues in EU Member States, 2000-2014'
Turley, G., McNena, S. (2018) 'Financing Local Government in the Twenty-First Century: Local Government Revenues in EU Member States, 2000-2014' In: The Routledge Handbook on International Local Government. Abingdon: Taylor & Francis Ltd. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2014) Irish Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference,
McNena, S. (2014) From Boom to Bust? The Financial Performance of City and County Councils in Ireland. [Conference Paper], Irish Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference, Belfast , 29-MAY-14 - 30-MAY-14. [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
(2005) Welfare State in Ireland 1997-2002. Belgium: Presented at the Conference the State of the Welfare State Anno.
McNena, S (2005) Welfare State in Ireland 1997-2002. Belgium: Presented at the Conference the State of the Welfare State Anno. Conference Paper [Details]

Educational Article

  Year Publication
(2022) Why Paschal Donohoe should introduce new income tax rates.
Stephen McNena (2022) Why Paschal Donohoe should introduce new income tax rates. Dublin: RTE Educational Article [Details]
(2022) Why are prices in Ireland so high?.
Stephen McNena (2022) Why are prices in Ireland so high?. Dublin: RTE Educational Article [Details]
(2022) Is Ireland too dependant on corporation tax?.
Stephen McNena (2022) Is Ireland too dependant on corporation tax?. Dublin: RTE Educational Article [Details]
(2022) Is a wealth tax a good idea?.
Stephen McNena (2022) Is a wealth tax a good idea?. Dublin: RTE Educational Article [Details]

Electronic Article

  Year Publication
(2023) Inflation: why prices look likely to stay high in the UK and Ireland, and what that means for mortgages.
Stephen McNena (2023) Inflation: why prices look likely to stay high in the UK and Ireland, and what that means for mortgages. The Conversation UK Electronic Article [Details]

Magazine Article

  Year Publication
(2022) Taxing Empty Space.
Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena (2022) Taxing Empty Space. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) Municipal Finance and the Local Economy post COVID-19.
Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena (2021) Municipal Finance and the Local Economy post COVID-19. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) Getting the Right Balance - A redesigned revenue equalisation funding model for local government.
Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena (2021) Getting the Right Balance - A redesigned revenue equalisation funding model for local government. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration Magazine Article [Details]

Policy Contribution

  Year Publication
(2020) Fiscal Equalisation in the Irish Local Government System.
Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena (2020) Fiscal Equalisation in the Irish Local Government System. Galway: Whitaker Research Institute - Policy Brief Series Policy Contribution [Details]
(2020) Local Government Funding In Ireland.
Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena (2020) Local Government Funding In Ireland. Galway: Whitaker Research Institute - Policy Brief Series Policy Contribution [Details]
(2018) Optimum Territorial Reforms and Local Authority Amalgamations. Does Size Matter?.
Gerard Turley, Stephen McNena, John McDonagh and Arkadiusz Grzedzinski (2018) Optimum Territorial Reforms and Local Authority Amalgamations. Does Size Matter?. Galway: Whitaker Research Institute - Policy Brief Series Policy Contribution [Details]
(2016) The Financial Performance of Irish Local Government.
Robbins, G., Turley, G., and S. McNena (2016) The Financial Performance of Irish Local Government. Galway: Whitaker Research Institute - Policy Brief Series Policy Contribution [Details]

Non Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2013) An evaluation of Ballinasloe marina.
McNena, S. (2013) An evaluation of Ballinasloe marina. Non Published Reports [Details]
(2002) Sligo County - Economic, Social and Cultural Profile.
McNena, S. (2002) Sligo County - Economic, Social and Cultural Profile. Sligo: Non Published Reports [Details]

Web Page

  Year Publication
(2020) www.localauthorityfinances.com.
Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena (2020) www.localauthorityfinances.com. Web Page [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2016 NUI Galway President's Award for Teaching Excellence - nomination NUI Galway
2015 NUI Galway President's Award for Teaching Excellence - nomination NUI Galway

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
SBE Learning, Teaching and Assessment committee Member 23-JAN-23 /
SBE Athena Swan self-assessment team Member 01-OCT-19 / 09-SEP-20

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
University of Galway Economics lecturer 01-JUL-98 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2014 NUI Galway Postgraduate Diploma Stand-alone module on Learning Technologies
2009 NUI Galway Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning
1997 UCG M.Econ.Sc. Economics
1995 UCG B.Commerce Economics

Consultancy

  Client Description
Galway County Council
Assistance with collecting statistics and economic data for the Local Economic and Community Plan.

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach Uni4U programme /

Other Activities

  Description

Programme Director of the Higher Diploma in Economic Science between 2017 and 2022. https://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/economic-science.html

Programme Director of the Higher Diploma in Financial Analysis https://www.universityofgalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/financial-analysis.html

Teaching Interests

Stephen teaches on, and contributes to, a wide range of modules: macroeconomics, mathematical economics, general public policy, social policy and family policy.

Current Postgraduate Students (Taught)

  Name Degree Primary Supervisor
Supervised 2x EC5138 minor dissertations Y

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2022 Supervised 4x EC505 minor dissertations Y
2021 Supervised 3x EC505 minor dissertations
2020 Supervised 4x EC505 minor dissertations
2019 Supervised 5x EC505 minor dissertations
2018 Alex Gardiner, M.Econ.Sc. - Cryptocurrencies Y
2018 Mathews Joseph, M.Ecoc.Sc. - Indian demonetisation Y
2018 Weichen Li, M.Econ.Sc - Is GDP growth translating into real-wage growth? Y
2016 Niall Pender, M.Econ.Sc. - Terrorism and tourism Y
2016 Alasdair Walsh, M.Econ.Sc. - Brexit and five possible trade relationships between the UK and EU Y
2015 Carol McLoughlin, MSc Health economics 2014/15 Y

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2023/24 Introduction to Economic Policy EC1110 1st year BA (Child, Youth, Family) and BSc. Applied Social Science
2023/24 Introductory Macroeconomics EC136
2023/24 Economics of Public and Social Policy EC267 2nd year BA (Child, Youth, Family) and 3rd year BSc. (Applied Social Science)
2023/24 Macroeconomics EC268
2023/24 Economics of Family Policy EC272
2023/24 Introduction to Youth and Family studies SP1103 Team teaching, I teach one-third of module
2022/23 Research Project EC5139
2022/23 Intermediate Macroeconomics EC7102 Part-time online B.Comm.
2021/22 Ireland in the Global Economy EC426.3 Part-time online B.Comm.
2019/20 Research Methods in Public and Social Policy SP1117 Team teaching - I teach 1/6
2016/17 Microeconomics EC 2.1 B.Ed. programme at St. Angela's College, Sligo
2014/15 Access programme - Economics and maths modules xx Access programme at St. Angela's College, Sligo

Internal Collaborators

  Name Description of Collaboration
Dr. Gerard Turley
Research
Dr. Geraldine Robbins
Research
Dr. John McDonagh
Research

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Christian Raffer Hertie School of Governance GERMANY
Research

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