Staff Testimonial
Martina Lawless
Associate Research Professor
Research Area Coordinator for the Macroeconomics Research Area
I joined the ESRI in January 2014, having previously worked as a research economist in the Central Bank of Ireland for ten years. Before that, I studied economics at Trinity College Dublin and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. From the time of my PhD studies at Trinity College, my interests have been quite broad-ranging across topics, linked to a large extent by their empirical emphasis - nothing better than a new data-set to explore!
"My interests have been quite broad-ranging across topics, linked to a large extent by their empirical emphasis - nothing better than a new data-set to explore!"
My research has covered a variety of topics examining how firm decisions are made in the areas of export market participation, foreign direct investment, job creation and wage setting, and how Brexit might affect Irish trade and businesses. I work quite a lot with survey data, most recently on Irish and European surveys of credit access by small and medium enterprises. During my time at the Central Bank I was involved in designing as well as analysing survey data – asking firms questions on employment and wages, and in a project with the CSO asking households about financial decisions.
"Research work at the ESRI is always varied and is very much a team-centred activity. The collegiate atmosphere is certainly one of the best things about working here."
I am currently working on projects related to firm export strategies, taxation and labour market transitions. In line with the majority of work undertaken by ESRI researchers, these projects are characterised by their empirical focus and strong policy orientation. Research work at the ESRI is always varied and is very much a team-centered activity. The collegiate atmosphere is certainly one of the best things about working here. It is also extremely rewarding to see the influence of ESRI work in informing policy decision making.