Press Release - 28th December 2007

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL IN THE 21^ST CENTURY GLOBALISED WORLD 

In a new Perspective, Globalisation is here to stay and Britain must be free to respond, Ruth Lea argues that the forces of globalisation are irreversible and the nations that will thrive in the 21^st century will be those able to respond flexibly to change. The UK's continued presence in the EU's political and economic union, with its heavy regulation and protectionism, can only hold Britain back.

Moreover, contrary to ‘received wisdom', small countries can be at an advantage in the new global economy. They can find it easier to craft and implement the necessary changes in policy in order to maintain flexibility than large countries and/or dated regional blocs with their relatively cumbersome bureaucracies. Britain, though not a particularly small economy, would therefore benefit from having a looser, freer relationship with the EU.

Ruth Lea, author and Director of Global Vision said,

"The 21^st century is an exciting century full of opportunities and challenges. The century's winners will be the innovative and the flexible. Small countries can be at a huge advantage here as they can change their policies quicker than large ones and, in particular, quicker than the heavily regulated EU. Britain's path is clear. Britain should opt for a looser relationship with the EU, based on trade and cooperation but we should opt out political and economic union."