During the 2016 elections in Northern Ireland, candidates focused on fiscal issues with many promising lower corporate taxes. It was estimated that if Northern Ireland were independent, its fiscal deficit would be more than 8 times higher than the EU ceiling.

a. What are the dangers associated with a fiscal imbalance? Do you think the promise of the election candidates would help decrease it?

b. If Northern Ireland were an independent state, how would your answer to part

(a) influence the generational imbalance?