Would an ‘independent’ Britain want to join the single market?

Three economic rules suggest that, were it not already a member of the EU’s single market, Britain might seek to join it, especially if the EU’s putative free trade agreements with the US and Japan came to fruition. Sadly, if Britain wanted single market membership without joining the euro or Schengen, the EU would probably force it to join the European Economic Area, like Norway or Iceland, and not become a full member of the club. Then it would have next-to-no say over the single market’s rules. The underlying principles of trade point to an obvious answer to the referendum question: Britain should remain in the EU.

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Information Guide: Single Market http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-single-market/

Blog: LSE Brexit Vote, 07.04.16: Having a voice in Brussels from outside the EU: the lessons of EEA-EFTA http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexitvote/2016/04/07/having-a-voice-in-brussels-from-outside-the-eu-the-lessons-of-eea-efta/

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