Brexit Economic Impact Overview
Brexit cost 6% of UK economy, Bank of England company data suggests
Key Findings from Bank Analysis
The UK economy has taken a 6% hit from the effects of Brexit according to economists analysis of internal Bank of England data about the decisions views and financial results of thousands of British companies since the referendum a decade ago.
Examining data that the Bank uses to decide on interest rates the study analysed lost growth by trying to reconstruct how the UK would have grown if it had not voted to leave the EU. It found that about half the economic hit came from the sheer surprise and uncertainty of the post-referendum period while the rest was from rising trade barriers after the UK left the customs union and single market in 2021.
Study Methodology and Scope
The latest version of the study has been published just ahead of the 10 year anniversary of the referendum. It used the company data alongside five more traditional analysis methods. While the company level data point to a 6% hit over 10 years the wider studies suggest an average of 8%.
The study is co-authored by economists with access to all the Banks data but the paper officially has a disclaimer that the views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Bank of England. This research provides new insights using corporate sector information in this way for the first time.
Company Data Panel Details
The Decision Maker Panel data is normally used to help inform the setting of interest rates but it was actually set up by the Bank of England in 2016 specifically to give some insight into the economic impact of Brexit. The authors used years of answers to track firms exposure to different aspects of Brexit reported Brexit impacts and any change in their financial accounts.
Co-author of the study British professor from Stanford University said the UK was growing fast in the years before Brexit and could have at least partially kept up with the US without the disruption. He argued the Bank of England company data offered important corroboration. His paper concludes In the case of Brexit there was a substantial economic impact on the United Kingdom but it arose gradually over the subsequent decade.
Categories and Keywords
Categories: Brexit Economy UK Growth. Keywords: Brexit impact Bank of England company data GDP reduction trade barriers uncertainty effects.
The analysis showed how much the UK could have grown if it had not exited the EU. These estimates suggest that by the end of the period Brexit had reduced UK GDP through accumulated effects on investment employment and productivity.