Brexit and state aid

Abstract

Brexit implies that the UK may move to different rules to control state aid, although changes will be minimal if it remains within the EEA and could be minor in the event of an EU/UK trade agreement. With a 'hard' Brexit, there could be much greater scope for selective industrial policy and that might be seductive to a government intent on a new industrial strategy. In this case, however, the risks of 'government failure' are considerable and it would be desirable to devise an institutional framework that strictly limits the scope for politicians to exercise discretion.