Why Brexit Is Not the Main Cause of Britain's Economic Slump
The article argues that blaming Brexit for the UK's slowdown ignores broader European economic stagnation and structural issues.
The column challenges the popular view that Brexit alone explains Britain's recent economic stagnation, noting that the association with Donald Trump's 2016 victory has fueled this perception. It references The Atlantic's claim that Brexit caused a 12-18% drop in business investment and a 6-8% fall in GDP per capita, while also highlighting the magazine's comparison of UK output to that of Mississippi. Interviews with Nigel Farage, now leader of Reform UK, are used to portray a Trump-like figure, yet the author argues that the EU itself has been experiencing a prolonged slowdown, as detailed in a Growth Commission report.
That report cites declining EU share of global GDP, high government spending, and burdensome taxes as key growth inhibitors. The piece concludes that Brexit is at most a distraction from the broader European malaise affecting both the UK and its continental partners.
Why it matters
Understanding the real drivers of the UK's slowdown helps avoid misdirected policies and debates.
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