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The economic impact of Brexit: Evidence from modelling free trade agreements

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  • Belke, Ansgar
  • Gros, Daniel

Abstract

This paper assesses the economic implications of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. The basic data on trade in goods and services and investment between the two parties suggest that cost of 'Brexit' could be substantial. Trade between the UK and the EU27 is large and of a similar order of magnitude as transatlantic trade (between the EU and the US). The precise nature of the (hopefully free) trade agreement UK-EU-27 is still being negotiated. But all available studies concur that a significant disruption of trade links will impose economic costs on both sides. However, the EU27 would bear only a disproportionally small share of the total cost - not just because it is about five times larger than the UK in economic terms but also for fundamental reasons such as greater market power of its enterprises. Other studies on different free trade arrangements confirm the general proposition that the smaller party has more to gain from eliminating trade barriers (and to lose from imposing them). This implies that the EU will have the stronger negotiating position.

Suggested Citation

  • Belke, Ansgar & Gros, Daniel, 2017. "The economic impact of Brexit: Evidence from modelling free trade agreements," Ruhr Economic Papers 700, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:700
    DOI: 10.4419/86788814
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. The Tories' structural problem
      by chris in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2017-07-04 18:34:41
    2. Brexit, Marxists & the state
      by chris in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2018-10-14 11:33:22

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    Cited by:

    1. Eduardo Rodrigues Sanguinet & Augusto Mussi Alvim, 2024. "The effects of the EU-MERCOSUR agreement on bilateral trade: the role of Brexit," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 227-249, February.
    2. Ansgar Belke & Daniel Gros, 2021. "The slowdown in trade: end of the “globalisation hype” and a return to normal?," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 45(2), pages 225-239, April.
    3. Bhattarai, Keshab & Mallick, Sushanta K. & Yang, Bo, 2021. "Are global spillovers complementary or competitive? Need for international policy coordination," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, 2021. "Introduction: How the British-exit is Impacting the European Union?," International Studies, , vol. 58(2), pages 133-149, April.
    5. Sanguinet, Eduardo & Alvim, Augusto, 2020. "Effects of EU-Mercosur trade agreement on bilateral trade: the role of Brexit," MPRA Paper 103010, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Deaconu Elena-Mădălina & Pătărlăgeanu Simona Roxana & Petrescu Irina-Elena & Dinu Mihai & Sandu Andrei, 2023. "An Outline of the Links between the Sustainable Development Goals and the Transformative Elements of Formulating a Fair Agri-Food Trade Policy – A Measurable EU Achievement," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 1449-1462, July.
    7. Laura M. Werner, 2020. "Hysteresis losses in the Preisach framework," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 1249-1278, March.
    8. Naser Makarem & Harjinder Singh & Nigar Sultana & Darren Henderson, 2023. "Policy uncertainty and real activities manipulation: evidence from Brexit," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 1415-1440, November.
    9. Begg Iain, 2019. "No Longer “The Economy Stupid”: How Muddled Economics Contributed to a Chaotic Brexit," The Economists' Voice, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Brexit; European Union; free trade agreements; trade in goods and services; FDI;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models

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