Trade policy: The UK needs to move towards a position of free trade on a global basis rather than trying to ensure a series of bilateral arrangements. Unilateral free trade will reduce consumer prices and prompt recalibration of the economy towards an international free trading area enhancing productivity

Regulation: On leaving the EU the UK should revise its regulatory approach, particularly in financial services, employment and energy and pursue unified regulation that comes through evolution and organic agreement rather than through institutions.

Migration: The UK should adopt a liberal migration policy outside the EU by securing a bilateral free movement arrangement with the rest of the EU and then liberalising domestic migration policy with the rest of the world

Leaving will certainly not automatically lead to greater economic liberalism in all areas. The UK government has shown itself to be much more illiberal than is required by EU law, but Brexit does increase the range of political possibilities and the government should grasp those to ensure that the UK does become more – and not less – liberal post Brexit.

In the event of a remain vote:

The principle of subsidiarity: the idea that the higher level of government (the EU) should only intervene if the lower level is not capable of acting should be properly defined in treaties so that European Union action can be challenged when necessary. Currently, the definition of subsidiarity is a perversion of its true meaning.

Mutual recognition with the single market: the development of the single market has gone hand-in-hand with the centralisation of regulation which consequently impacts on the costs of trade. However, in an environment where member states accept each other’s regulation under the principle of ‘mutual recognition’, regulation should not inhibit trade.

Competitive federalism: this should be the approach to EU governance. It would lead to decentralisation and a reduction in the vested interests and power of the Union. Member states should develop their own regulatory structures which would be subject to competition, helping to reduce regulatory burdens and aiding the discovery process.

Constitutional reform: to tame the power of the EU. This could include a second chamber of the European Parliament with members from national parliaments that could veto centralising regulation and a second court with a duty to apply subsidiarity and proportionality

Commenting on the report, Philip Booth, co-author and Academic and Research Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs said: 

“In its current form, the European Union goes way beyond the proper role desirable for a supranational body designed to promote economic freedom. The EU has a centralising agenda that makes it easier to lobby for different sectional interests. Furthermore, high levels of external protection raise prices for UK consumers. 

“In the event of a vote to leave, the UK should pursue broadly liberal policies in order to achieve international free trade. In the event of a vote to remain, the UK should bring forward a radical vision of reform for the EU, both constitutionally and ideologically. This may not be welcomed within the EU, but the EU needs reform and there are no prizes for not trying.”

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries please contact Nerissa Chesterfield, Communications Officer: nchesterfield@iea.org.uk or 020 7799 8920 or 07791 390 268

The full report by Philip Booth and Ryan Bourne can be downloaded here.

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