Perspectives on Business and Economics, Volume 36 (2018): The United Kingdom on the Brink of Brexit

<p>The Brexit vote brought to the surface salient political divisions fortified by economic and cultural anxieties. This article explores how proponents leveraged populist and nationalist sentiment surrounding economic inequalities and immigration to convince the UK to leave the EU.</p>

<p>The UK has been a dominant hub for the production of luxury consumer vehicles for the past couple of decades. Yet this dominance is likely to wither with the new challenges facing the industry due to Brexit. This article examines how automotive supply chain globalization and foreign direct investment aided the development of the luxury automotive industry in the UK. The article considers the consequences that will result from industry isolation from the EU caused by Brexit.</p>

<p>In London, England's array of opportunities for work, leisure, and education attracts people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. In turn, the city's population has reached historically high levels and is expected to continue growing. As London's population grows, affordable housing becomes scarce. This article analyzes the landscape of London's affordable housing market and the extent to which London Mayor Sadiq Khan's planned reforms will make living in the city genuinely affordable for years to come.</p>

The Bank of England is tasked with stabilizing one of the world's most critical financial systems amidst the global proliferation of nascent and untested cryptocurrencies. This article evaluates the Bank of England's response as a second-mover in cryptocurrency regulation by analyzing its cryptocurrency policies, regulatory tools, and potential indicators for further regulatory action.

<p>Cross-border trade is the cornerstone of the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland economic relationship and a primary driver of Brexit discussions, which threaten the integrated and currently invisible seams of the border. The UK has simultaneously committed to maintaining frictionless trade and to no hard border post-Brexit. This article analyzes the UK's proposed solutions for the Irish border as well as the potential impact of these new systems on the economics of cross-border trade on the island of Ireland.</p>

<p>The Brexit vote has removed the ability of multinational banks to access the European single market through their London headquarters, forcing them to establish European bases. This article analyzes the drivers of these location decisions. A model created by examining publicized plans suggests that the main factors influencing choices are office space costs, corporate tax rate, business climate, payroll tax rate, quality of life, and housing costs. Results suggest that Frankfurt, Germany, is the most attractive city.</p>

The UK has reduced emissions substantially, aiming for an 80% decrease in emissions by 2050. However, a changing energy generation portfolio, growing electricity demand, and wavering political support are forcing the country away from its desired emissions trajectory. By focusing on renewables and nuclear power, efficiency in sectors such as building and transportation, and balance of electricity supply inconsistencies, the UK can meet its ambitious targets.

<p>Scientific research, particularly at the university level, has long been a hallmark of UK economic and technological prosperity. This article analyzes how Brexit will change scientific research at UK universities by examining the flow of people and funds across borders and offers thoughts on researchers' and Parliament's role in supporting the future efficacy of the UK scientific domain.</p>

<p>The British media landscape faces a ubiquitous threat, one of both lack of regulation and excessive freedom in terms of concentration and ownership. This article examines the potential effects of unregulated media concentration on political relationships between prominent media owners and the UK government as well as its overall effect on UK citizens' quality and perception of news.</p>

<p>Domestic sentiment toward outsiders in the UK has become fueled with negativity and wariness. A heated Leave campaign succeeded in convincing the public that EU citizens were destroying the economy. This article studies the true economic role of EU citizens in the UK prior to dissecting the proposed immigration policy following Brexit to predict the effect of reduced EU immigration to different sectors of the UK economy.</p>

<p>As the UK begins to understand the implications of the Brexit vote, the status of its financial services sector is at risk. This article focuses on the challenges the UK will face when negotiating a new deal with the EU and provides potential likely scenarios that the UK will adopt.</p>

<p>In a 2017 study, the UK National Health Service (NHS) was ranked as the highest performing health system when compared with those in ten other wealthy nations. However, protests in England tell a different story. As NHS staff in England cope with rising demands amid insufficient funding, accident and emergency services wait times are increasing and hospitals' safety ratings are falling. This article examines the strengths and challenges facing England's NHS and suggests recommendations to prevent its potential collapse.</p>