Single market, competition & trade
Turning down the heat on transatlantic tech
31 January 2023
The EU and US are adopting different approaches to trade and investment in technology with China. But their mutual mistrust is unwarranted.
Early impacts of the post-Brexit immigration system on the UK labour market
17 January 2023
The end of the free movement has led to a shortfall of around 330,000 workers in Britain. Most are in less-skilled sectors of the economy.
Bulletin issue 147 - December 2022/January 2023
01 December 2022
- Now is not the time for Ukraine to negotiate, Ian Bond
- How the pandemic strengthened the EU, Camino Mortera-Martinez
- The UK needs a chips strategy, Zach Meyers
The UK needs a chips strategy
01 December 2022
London wants chip-makers in Britain to support innovation. But using national security laws to engineer that outcome is counterproductive. Instead, the UK needs a more sober post-Brexit tech policy.
UK science and technology after Brexit: How to fix it
28 November 2022
Brexit has hurt British science and slowed the deployment of new technology across its economy. Rejoining the single market may be politically unrealistic, but Britain can still limit the damage.
The EU should abandon chip nationalism
20 October 2022
With the US aggressively throttling China’s chip capabilities, the EU wants to protect itself by subsidising its own domestic chip manufacturing industry. But Europe has better and more realistic alternatives.
In defence of borrowing for climate action
13 October 2022
Even though interest rates are rising globally, European governments should still borrow large sums to finance green projects. In some cases, the EU should help.
Bulletin issue 146 - October/November 2022
29 September 2022
- Can Truss reset relations with the EU?, Charles Grant
- Trussonomics has failed at the first hurdle, John Springford
- A world of troubles for Liz Truss, Ian Bond
Trussonomics has failed at the first hurdle
29 September 2022
Are the UK’s institutions strong enough to stop the government’s wrong-headed fiscal policy?
Can Truss reset relations with the EU?
29 September 2022
Britain’s new prime minister has the chance to rebuild bridges to the European Union. But it is unclear whether she will seize the opportunity.
How to fix the Northern Ireland Protocol
08 September 2022
Hilary Benn MP considers the stalemate between London and Brussels over the Northern Ireland Protocol and highlights key areas where both sides can achieve a compromise.
The EU needs a bigger playing field – not a level playing field
01 September 2022
Despite appearing to be legalistic and bureaucratic, the EU’s level playing field instruments are more flexible – and can be used more strategically – than they first appear.
Bulletin issue 145 - August/September 2022
03 August 2022
- Using sanctioned Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine will not be easy, Camino Mortera-Martinez, Zach Meyers
- Beyond European strategic autonomy?, Luigi Scazzieri
- The US could cope with deglobalisation. Europe couldn't, John Springford
The US could cope with deglobalisation. Europe couldn't
03 August 2022
True ‘deglobalisation’ – disintegration of the global economy – would be triggered by a political event, like China invading Taiwan. That would be a big problem for Europe’s economy.
The EU's plan to unlock industrial data needs a rethink
08 July 2022
The EU’s ambition for industry to better exploit data is a worthy and realistic one. But expanding some of the GDPR’s rules to industrial data would be a mistake.
What can we know about the cost of Brexit so far?
09 June 2022
The UK's GDP is 5.2 per cent smaller than a modelled ‘doppelgänger’ UK that did not leave the EU; investment is 13.7 per cent lower, and goods trade, 13.6 per cent lower. Most of those costs are down to Brexit.
Bulletin issue 144 - June/July 2022
30 May 2022
- Will the EU rethink enlargement?, Luigi Scazzieri
- Can the UK keep up with Europe on digital competition?, Zach Meyers
- Europe needs a China strategy, Ian Bond, François Godement, Hanns Maull, Volker Stanzel
Can the UK keep up with Europe on digital competition?
30 May 2022
As Brussels finalises world-leading digital competition rules, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has deferred similar reforms for Britain. But if UK authorities are bold, they can still help shape global tech markets.
Will the Digital Services Act save Europe from disinformation?
21 April 2022
In negotiating the Digital Services Act, EU law-makers balanced tackling disinformation with protecting free speech. The Commission’s last-minute proposal for stricter regulation of tech platforms during crises undermines this balance.
The cost of Brexit: December 2021
10 March 2022
By December 2021, leaving the single market and customs union had reduced UK goods trade by 14.9 per cent. And new analysis shows that UK exports have taken a larger hit than imports.