Following 0.8% growth last year, the Irish economy is expected to expand 0.5% this year and 2.0% next year (according to the IMF). In comparison, the IMF predicts that the euro area will shrink 0.3% in 2012 and grow a modest 0.9% in 2013. In fact, only two other euro members are expected to outperform Ireland next year – Estonia and the Slovak Republic – while the ‘stronger’ economies Germany and France will grow at a slower pace.