An equal exit? The distributional consequences of leaving the EU

Article

The UK’s vote to leave the EU arose in part from deep social and geographical divides across the country. But could the decision to leave in turn impact on inequalities?

In the two years since the referendum, some have argued that Brexit could boost the incomes of poorer groups through cheaper food prices, while others have argued that the most vulnerable groups and regions would bear the greatest burden of a ‘hard’ Brexit.

Based on data on GVA impacts and price impacts, this briefing tests these claims and explores how the effects on trade of Brexit could influence inequalities across income groups, geographies, genders and ethnicities.

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