In the News

Caveman with a Computer Resurfaces in Brexit Debate

Geoff Riley

21st August 2017

Share this content:

Patrick Minford has produced a report that suggests a UK economy fully liberated from the EU stands to make significant macroeconomic gains.

Minford argues that free trade benefits consumers directly from lower prices and puts pressure on businesses to raise productivity and reduce their unit costs.

It didn't take long for the bulk of the Economics profession to wade in and criticise his assumptions and forecasts!

Monique Ebell, Economist at NIESR and the ESRC Centre for Macroeconomics goes head to head with Minford on BBC radio 4.

The Economists for Brexit predictions are inconsistent with the basic facts of international trade https://t.co/h4WAWJDw73
— Patrick Dunleavy (@PJDunleavy) August 24, 2017

An amazing detail from Minford's "Economists for Brexit" paper - they believe there are border checks on the Northern Ireland/Irish border. https://t.co/lms0QKNiGY
— Steve Peers (@StevePeers) August 20, 2017

Siemens UK CEO isn't onboard with predictions of a £135bn Brexit windfall for British economy... https://t.co/HaqBhVmHwg
— Josh Posaner (@joshposaner) August 20, 2017

His pre EU referendum forecast had no sterling depreciation, no rise in inflation and no economic slowdown.
— Chris Giles (@ChrisGiles_) August 20, 2017

Brexit and customs union — what’s at stake not only during transition https://t.co/khhy2oWZuD via @FT
— Chris Giles (@ChrisGiles_) August 10, 2017

Share this content:

Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.

@tutor2uGeoff

Explore

More for students

Teaching Economics

Caveman with a Computer Resurfaces in Brexit Debate

Geoff Riley

You might also like

In the News Teaching Activity – How has the vote to Brexit 10 years ago affected the economy? (June 2026)

Video Shorts on European Union Economics

Micro & Macro Effects of Brexit | A-Level Economics Revision

In the News Teaching Activity – did the Spring statement address the UK’s economic problems? (Apr 2025)

Has Brexit Damaged the UK Economy? | A-Level & IB Economics

Why Is UK Economic Growth So Slow? Key Challenges & Solutions Explained!

In the News Teaching Activity – post-Brexit regulations reduce UK food exports (Dec 2024)

Breaking Barriers: How a UK-EU Trade Reset Could Boost Economic Growth

Explore

More for students

Subjects

Quick links

Student events & courses

Teaching Economics

Caveman with a Computer Resurfaces in Brexit Debate

Geoff Riley

You might also like