First, the short version… In my opinion, the UK should rejoin the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which would allow British firms to use components sourced from anywhere within this zone and still qualify for tariff-free trade with other members. This would not be a ‘betrayal of Brexit’, despite what some are claiming. Crucially, the PEM Convention is … Continue reading The UK probably should rejoin the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention – but it’s not a big deal either way
Category: Brexit
Are the IMF’s latest forecasts really “good news for Rachel Reeves”?
Frankly, I would prefer to ignore the economic forecasts from the IMF, or other multinational organisations like the OECD, because they add little value. However, the latest numbers for the UK have been trumpeted as a big win for the government, and for the embattled Chancellor in particular, as part of what appears to be … Continue reading Are the IMF’s latest forecasts really “good news for Rachel Reeves”?
Is Brexit really costing the UK economy £100 billion a year?
One of the most dramatic claims made by those seeking to reverse Brexit is that leaving the EU is costing the UK economy ‘£100 billion every year’ in lost output, or about 4pc of GDP. Moreover, that would translate into about £40 billion in lost tax revenues, which happens to be roughly the same as … Continue reading Is Brexit really costing the UK economy £100 billion a year?
EU’s legal battles with Britain show Starmer’s ‘reset’ is a fool’s errand
The prospect of a ‘reset’ of the UK’s relations with the EU has excited some and alarmed others. This muddle of emotions has not been helped by a barrage of misinformation from supporters of much closer ties with the rest of Europe. So, how worried should we be? To be fair, the opening of negotiations … Continue reading EU’s legal battles with Britain show Starmer’s ‘reset’ is a fool’s errand
Plain-speaking Economics 