nctions, and damage from military action by an international
coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic
activity. Although government policies supporting large military and
internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters
of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's
oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve
conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export
limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some
infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999, the UN Security
Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as
required to meet humanitarian needs. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was
largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil
prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while
medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per
capita output and living standards were still well below the
pre-1991 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The
military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003
resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic
administrative structure, but with the loss of a comparatively small
amount of capital plant. The rebuilding of oil, electricity, and
other production is proceeding steadily at the start of 2004 with
foreign support and despite the continuation of severe internal
strife. A joint UN and World Bank report released in the fall of
2003 estimated that Iraq's key reconstruction needs through 2007
would cost $55 billion. In October 2003, international donors
pledged assistance worth more than $33 billion toward this
rebuilding effort.

Ireland
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with
growth averaging a robust 8% in 1995-2002. The global slowdown,
especially in the information technology sector, pressed growth down
to 2.1% in 2003. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now
dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP
and about 80% of exports and employs 28% of the labor force.
Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the
economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending,
construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above
that of the four big European economies and the second highest in
the sEU, behind Luxembourg. Over the