LSE British Politics and Policy blog:
Our most popular reads of 2015 and a prediction for 2016
31 December 2015
The biggest issue for 2016...is the same as it was for 2015: the possibility of Brexit
Section by John Van Reenen
Being part of the world's largest economic trading block benefits the UK through more trade and foreign investment (and yes, by attracting talented people too). All serious analysis shows that the average Britain can expect cuts in real incomes after Brexit. To get the same level of access to the Single market we would, like Norway, have to continue paying a large ''entry fee'', adopt the same regulations and cease to have a say in Europe's development. So unless we wake up soon, Britain will slope towards exit.
And here are our most popular articles in 2015:
Corbyn and the political economy of nostalgia
Voting for Jeremy Corbyn as leader is a gut reaction to Labour's electoral defeat. Corbyn does point to some real economic problems facing Britain but his policies are based largely on the kind of wishful thinking that is endemic in UK politics and both blights Labour's past. His popularity lies in Labour's failure to defend its own record in government. The party needs to learn from its successes as well as its evident recent failures if it wants to re-build, writes John Van Reenen.
This article was posted online by the LSE British Politics and Policy blog on December 31, 2015
Link to article here
Related links
John Van Reenen webpage
Growth Programme webpage