Roger Bootle

What's wrong with the EU? Roger Bootle, brilliant economist with quite an impressive record (he forecasted the exit of the pound from the ERM back in 1992 and, more recently, had warned against the bubble in US real estate) delivers here a clear but damning verdict: because of its political direction towards federalism, pushed forward by European political elites even against the will of most European citizens (remember that Constitutional treaty forced through the back door at Lisbon?...) show more the EU not only became ill-suited but also damaging to the economical well-being of its member states. More, it has thus been feeding a growing and worrying discontent both amongst politicians and the common citizens, to the point where the situation, climaxing with the whole Brexit campaign (and this book was written before the results came out!) has become untenable. In fact, beyond economical disappointment, failures and insufficiencies, if nothing is done to reverse the political process countries will leave, and/or the EU itself, as it is now, will have its future seriously put a risk.

I really loved this analysis. Not only is it clear on topics that are quite complex (e.g. the chapters on the Eurozone crisis are truly absorbing) but even though he focuses mostly on economics, the author puts things in an enlightening perspective. Here's not only a great insight into why the EU failed to deliver in terms of economical success -especially compared to other blocks like ASEAN, MERCOSUR or NAFTA. It is also a good picture of what relationship would be alternatively available to the UK in case of a Brexit and, cherry on the cake, a great hint at what might happen to the EU itself should one of its members leave.

Now that the UK is out, 'The Trouble with Europe' is therefore a great read to better grasp why leaving was a good choice, and what the possible implications, both economically and politically, might be for everyone -the UK and the EU. Time will tell, but this account is engaging and very interesting. show less

Always interesting to revisit a prediction book like this one, many years after the prediction. The title says it all. He's predicting an era of low inflation. Though I notice that he has an each way bet in the introduction where ehe says he might be wrong. Well I guess coming out of the mid 1970's, most inflation was likely to look low. But my impression over the last 26 years is that inflation has crept along at quite a healthy pace .....maybe not as extreme as it was when America flooded show more the world with US dollars in the Vietnam war but it certainly hasn't been zero.Not sure that roger Bootle has called it right....though that rarely seems to worry economic astrologers. I'm now in the position of having to downsize my library and this book is one of the casualties. Pity but I won't be using it in th future. I give it two stars. show less

Rare that a book changes your mind. Perhaps that's going too far: it has consolidated an intuition that I suppose i've had for a long time, that the European Union is bad news, not just for Britain but for Europe too. Balanced argument, no, but he gives a hearing to other views than his own, sets out the history and options very clearly and even with some light humour. An easy read too, through some thorny complexities (e.g. I'm still not quite sure how the Single Market is different from show more the EU itself). Main points: The EU was conceived in a different world and its generals are still fighting the last war ( in more senses than one); UK is not such a minnow, would still be trading with Europe whether outside or even after the EU; Brexit might well bring the EU itself to its end; Europe's economic decline is mainly due to bad governance; two main aims of expansion and internal uniformity are incompatible.

Intriguing suggestion that the Commonwealth may be more fit for purpose; common language, legal tradition, distance no bar with modern communications.

Recent events in Paris, since publication, already already leading to some unravelling of Schengen principle of free movement. show less