Sinead Ryan: We don't need another inflationary state savings scheme - just overhaul the punitive tax measures on investments

"Existing policies are complex and expensive, and tweaking them could make a huge difference to people's pockets"

"The Department of Finance isn't sexy. Its big stick precedes every conversation. A populist policy is rare. But, when the National Lottery began in 1987, its premise, to "raise money for good causes" while making a few people rich, bucked the trend."

"The state-licensed gambling operation was the easiest method of extracting tax ever invented, but it was also that rare combination of sexy message and roaring success from the Department of Dull."

Existing policies are complex and expensive, and targeted adjustments could make a large difference to household finances. The Department of Finance is portrayed as unglamorous, with regulatory authority shaping many outcomes. The National Lottery launch in 1987 combined fundraising for good causes with the potential for private winnings, creating broad public appeal. A state-licensed gambling operation provided a straightforward and effective mechanism for revenue extraction. That model paired an attractive public message with substantial fiscal results, demonstrating how policy design and communication can produce outsized political and financial effects.

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