Originally Posted by
Rjk
many of the economic arguments against Welsh independence would have equally applied to Ireland about 100 years ago.
when they became independent they were probably the poorest part of the UK, and it has taken them most of a century but since 2001 they have had a higher GDP per capita, and it is a gap that is only getting wider.
in the 1920s they basically had an entirely agrarian economy, that ONLY traded with the UK.
if they hadn't have left the UK there is NO WAY that they would now be as wealthy or the wealthiest part of the UK. they would probably be a poor part of the UK and as ignored as the remaining poor parts in terms of investment.