To cover posts relating to Brexit
Psychology suggests we’re more likely to fail if we believe we’re going to fail: optimists who look forward to a successful future are more likely to succeed. That applies to people, to communities and to nations. Too many Britons are worried by what we may lose when we leave the European Union and don’t recognise … More Accentuate the Positive
David Davis is a nice bloke, always smiling despite having to deal with the intractable Michel Barnier and those behind him. Compare him with Donald Trump, widely regarded around the world as a complete oaf. Which of them is the more successful negotiator? Despite the USA being the world’s foremost power it feels it has … More The Art of The Deal
It seems that the Brexit negotiations have reached some agreement with regard to the transition (EU) or implementation (UK) period. Full details are in the linked document, 23-euco-art50-guidelines, prepared for the European Council (it’s only seven pages long). The numbered items are titled “Guidelines – 23 March 2018” but unlike earlier guidelines leave more room … More Transition Guidelines
We have finally agreed something with the EU – to extend the negotiations for an extra 21 months. Under the EU treaty rules we could have agreed to simply extend the Article 50 period beyond the minimum two years. Instead we will have left in theory in the minimum time but hardly in practice. We … More Transitional Agreement
Polls suggest that potential Leave and Remain votes haven’t changed much since the Referendum though some have swapped sides, either frightened or disgusted by what has since happened. The EU is proving a tough negotiator in the Brexit talks, even an inflexible one. This promises to do us harm when we leave yet many still … More On the Other Hand
Financially Speaking M. Barnier: “There is no place [for financial services]. … There is not a single trade agreement that is open to financial services. It doesn’t exist.” May: “The EU has included financial services, to varying degrees, in quite a number of the trade agreements that they have already established with other countries.” The … More Shorties-15
A tourist asks a local for directions to Dublin. The Irishman replies: ‘Well sir, if I were you, I wouldn’t start from here’. (Apology: this old joke has also been told about a Scotsman, a New Yorker and probably others, so no disrespect intended to the Irish in particular.) If you wanted an invisible, frictionless … More Divide or Rule?
We love economics. There are two reasons we keep banging on about it in this blog: first, because it’s the main topic in the Brexit debates, if not necessarily the only key issue; second, it’s very rational and we love a structured argument. But the ‘dismal science’, as economists themselves love to call it, is … More A Dismal Ramble
Viscount Ridley reminded the House of Lords during the recent Brexit debate that the previous, pre-Referendum Treasury forecast was a “clean sweep of failed predictions”. For example, “A vote to leave would represent an immediate and profound shock to our economy. That shock would push our economy into recession and lead to an increase in … More The Cost of Brexit
The EU document is addressed to “Delegations” from the “General Secretariat of the Council” and its sub-Subject is “Supplementary directives for the negotiation of an agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal from the European Union” The full document can be found here: In … More Transition: Negotiating Directives (2)
This EU Won't Work 