A 'Brexit' wouldn't be the economic calamity you've been warned about

Why the United Kingdom just should leave the EU

Will Prime Minister David Cameron keep his promise?
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Republican and Democratic caucuses aren't the only elections going on in the world right now.

The United Kingdom is heading towards a referendum on entering or leaving the European Union, an election pledge by David Cameron. For Cameron, it was a political ploy. British euroskeptics are an important force, but they don't trust the Conservatives, and might not have normally bothered to vote. By making this pledge, the Conservative prime minister ensured they turn out and vote for the Conservatives, without having to concede anything. He's also probably betting that the referendum will fail, because Cameron doesn't want his country to leave the EU. And indeed the idea of the country withdrawing from the European Union — sometimes referred to as Brexit — has all of the world terrified.

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Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is a writer and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His writing has appeared at Forbes, The Atlantic, First Things, Commentary Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Federalist, Quartz, and other places. He lives in Paris with his beloved wife and daughter.