How can free trade counter the rise of economic nationalism?

On February 1st, 2017, WPI Economics had the pleasure of launching our Trade Prospects Index at the British Academy. The launch event, organised in conjunction with our sister company WPI Strategy, featured a panel discussion chaired by Kamal Ahmed, the Economics Editor of the BBC, and attended by:

  • Lord Deighton of Carshalton, Chairman of Heathrow Airport;
  • Mats Persson, Head of International Trade at Ernst & Young, and former Special Adviser on Europe to David Cameron;
  • Vicky Pryce, Chief Economic Adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) and former Economic Director General at the Department for Trade and Industry; and
  • Shanker Singham, Chairman of the Legatum Institute’s Special Trade Commission and a former economic adviser to Mitt Romney

The event focused on the interaction between free trade and rising economic nationalism, and explored the future of the UK’s trade relationships as the process of leaving the European Union is negotiated.

Pictured: The panel discussion at the launch of of the 2017 Trade Prospects Index (from left: Shanker Singham, Lord Deighton, Kamal Ahmed, Vicky Pryce, Mats Persson).