527 Jeep /SUV prestige Audis in Y2012 rather then the 203 units in Y2011 I first became aware of the Irish petty oligarchy while on holiday down in Glandore (a west cork town frequented by the rich of Cork city) in 1990. This was the first post 1987 credit boom while people were still leaving the country...cut short by the first Gulf war and the first EMU crisis which followed. Its a privatised money system -- the connected get the spoils and socialise the losses. Enter Mac the Knife ( the finance minister of the time who brought in the fiscal austerity /consumer credit hyperinflation polices) At least during the early 80s depression ( partially caused by the banks creating credit for agricultural land on the strength of the Farmers new fiscal income from Europe) People generally bought modest 1 litre cars if at all during the 80s depression. Post 1987 something very nasty was created. Londons big bang of 1986 was all about flooding countries such as Spain & Ireland with oil / credit so as to earn a yield from the waste production. When the banks can't earn a yield these human conduits they must push entire countries into current account surplus so that they can remain in real goods deficit. There is a great deal of misunderstanding/misinformation at play. For example, in the UK, politicians regulary say the fact the country's borrowing costs are not the same as Greece's are because of the coalition's commitment to austerity.