Collins Conference Room
Seminar
  US Mountain Time

Our campus is closed to the public for this event.

Wendy Carlin (University College London) and Alan Kirman (Aix-Marseille)

Alan and Wendy are not doing research on this topic but have kindly agreed to lead off our discussion.

Alan’s questions: The main question is who needs whom? How important is the EU to the U.K and how important is the U.K. to the EU? Both sides seem to have very different views. Perhaps it is worth looking at the facts. The EU says no negotiations about BREXIT until the U.K invokes Article 50. The U.K. says we will not invoke article 50 until we have negotiated a satisfactory deal! Who is going to open the ball? And can the United Kingdom remain united if BREXIT really happens? Finally, how much impact will this have on the global economic system. Could it just be a storm in a tea cup?

Wendy's ideas: There was a high degree of consensus among economists over the expected costs of Brexit. This formed the government’s case for Remain. The Cameron-Osborne government’s principle other use of economic argument was in support of their policy of austerity. Professional opinion was divided but a clear majority view was that the extent of austerity was not justified by economic arguments. C-O persuaded the electorate that the advice of economists could be safely ignored, and that austerity would yield economic benefits. When the latter failed to materialize, instead of blaming austerity for economic woes, immigrants were blamed. It was then impossible to win over voters for the Remain case on the strength of expert economic opinion about the costs of Brexit.

Purpose: 
Research Collaboration
SFI Host: 
Sam Bowles

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