The Conversation:
A hard Brexit and reduced migration won't benefit UK workers
18 October 2016
In the wake of Britains vote to leave the EU, the big debate has switched to what relationship the two should have post-Brexit. Top of the agenda is access to the single market and freedom of movement. As well as indications from the government that it is headed for a ''hard Brexit'' - which means leaving the single market and an end to freedom of movement - there has been much talk of limiting the number of foreign workers in businesses since the Brexit vote. In an ebook for VoxEU on Brexit, I've analysed the research on how Brexit will affect the UK labour market, including jobs and wages. From an economic perspective, leaving the single market and curtailing immigration from the EU would not only be bad news for the British economy, but the evidence suggests that it would not bring much benefit to UK-born workers either.
This article was published online by The Conversation on October 18, 2016
Link to article here
Related publications
Brexit Beckons: Thinking ahead, VoxEU ebook by leading economists including Barbara Petrongolo. See Chapter 14: 'Brexit and labour markets'
Brexit and the UK Labour Market, Barbara Petrongolo. Article in CentrePiece, Volume 21, Issue 2, Autumn 2016
Related links
Barbara Petrongolo webpage
Labour Markets Programme webpage
Barbara Petrongolo CEP publications webpage