Oliver Browne

UCC

Dr Oliver Browne is a lecturer in the department of accounting and finance at Cork University Business School, UCC. His research focuses on FinTech business models and regulation.

Rear view shot of a female customer looking and choosing fresh bottled milk while standing in front of a display fridge full of diary products in supermarket.

Will Ireland see a supermarket price war in 2026?

The current wave of food price cuts should be viewed as a marketing move rather than the start of widespread reductions by all supermarkets

Supermarkets • 13 Jan

The growing reliance on subscription models and other new-school financial payments underscores the urgent need for robust financial literacy education. Photo: Getty Images

Here's how financial literacy affects the money in your pocket

An inability to process financial information leaves us open to poor money decisions, increased debt and onerous financial commitments

money • 23 Nov 25

A stock omage of a woman inserting a card into an ATM

Are you really more likely to get divorced than switch banks?

Until switching banks is as easy as switching mobile network, most of us will stay in the same financial relationship we began in college

Banking • 04 Nov 25

What Lidl's milk price cut tells us about supermarket price wars

Lidl's price drop on milk was quickly matched by other retailers, representing the first skirmish of a potential price war

Cost of Living • 15 Oct 25

a woman in a supermarket with a shopping trolley using her phone

Will Budget 2026 do anything about prices you pay for groceries?

The use of any budget measures to relieve the cost of living crisis is limited by fiscal constraints and economic uncertainty

Budget 2026 • 01 Oct 25

Ireland's unprecedented level of savings comes at a time of low bank returns, inflation erosion and a lack of compelling alternatives.

What are Irish people doing with their savings of €163 billion?

The challenge of making savings work harder for Irish households will persist unless consumer habits shift or new policies emerge

Your Money • 31 Jul 25

How the cost of living crisis has changed Ireland's streets

Retailers and businesses in Irish towns and cities now face huge direct and indirect challenges to stay in operation

Ireland • 15 Jul 25

Overhead view of young Asian woman managing personal banking and finance at home. Planning budget and calculating expenses while checking her bills with calculator. Managing taxes and financial bills. Home budgeting. Concept of finance and economy

6 policy changes to help consumers save money and cut costs

These simple, quick initiatives could deliver financial relief, promote fairer markets and strengthen consumer protections

Cost of Living • 01 Jul 25

'From what goods end up in our basket to the price paid for ingredients, the market for goods is also more global than we realise'

Will the price of my weekly grocery shop ever fall?

There are complex reasons for the 36% increase in grocery prices in the last four years and that's unlikely to change any time soon

Cost of Living • 06 Jun 25

Broadband and phone services are the most utilities to face mid-contract price hikes

Why are my bills going up (and up) mid-contract?

Mid-contract price hikes may be legal, but the practice has been criticised as being unfair to consumers during a cost of living crisis

Cost of Living • 11 Apr 25