Fredrik Erixon
Email: [email protected]
Office: +32 (0)2 289 1350 Mobile: +32 (0)499 053 107
Fredrik Erixon is a Swedish economist, writer and the Founding Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE).
He is the author of several books and studies in the fields of international economics, economic policy, and regulatory affairs (welfare reforms, healthcare, competition policy, et cetera). His book The Innovation Illusion: How so Little is Created by so Many Working so Hard (Yale University Press) became an international bestseller and was ranked as one of the best business books in 2016 by the Financial Times and the Economist. His latest book, published with Niklas Swanström and Mrittika Guha Sarkar, The US, EU and the Emerging Supply Chain Network, outlines new approaches for dealing with national security issues in the international economy. He has also written books about the history of political ideas, the role of social capital in economic growth, and international economic policy. His research interests cover international economics, European economic and foreign policy, trade and regulatory policy, philosophy, innovation, human capital and technological change. He is currently writing a book about technology and how it will change in the future.
Erixon has advised several large companies and governments in Europe and the rest of the world, and is a frequent speaker at conferences. He regularly writes for international newspapers and magazines. In his previous career, Erixon has worked in development policy, government, financial markets, business consulting, and academia. He was educated at the Universities of Oxford and Uppsala, and the London School of Economics, and has been a visiting scholar and professor at all three universities.
ECIPE Policy Briefs
Strengthening the Supply-Side Innovation in EU Telecommunications
The telecommunications sector is central to the EU’s competitiveness, not only providing the infrastructure that underpins digital connectivity but also serving as a key driver of innovation. Recent EU reports already highlight the persistent structural challenges faced by the EU telecommunication sector: market fragmentation, low investment levels, divergent spectrum policies, and an urgent need to bolster digital sovereignty. However, a critical dimension in...
ECIPE Occasional Papers
Models of Industrial Policy: Driving Innovation and Economic Growth
Europe’s approach to industrial policy has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, with state aid reaching 1.4 per cent of GDP in 2022, levels unseen since the early 1990s. While advocates of substantial state aid argue that this intervention is necessary to maintain competitiveness in a world where the US and China are implementing large-scale industrial strategies, the effectiveness of this approach remains contested. This paper critically...
ECIPE Policy Briefs
India and the World Economy: Policy Options at a Time of Geopolitical Drama, Technological Shifts, and Rising Protectionism
What trade policy should India pursue? Geopolitical drama and a faltering multilateral system have made choices of trade policy harder for many countries. Rising protectionism, economic nationalism, and growing scepticism towards globalisation eat into most trade relations. Technology-driven innovation and rapid changes in the composition of trade have added additional layers of complexity, forcing governments to develop new policies for cross-border economic...
ECIPE Policy Briefs
Benchmarking Quantum Technology Performance: Governments, Industry, Academia and their Role in Shaping our Technological Future
In this study on the transformative potential of quantum technology in reshaping economies, we present results and evidence drawing on a unique and innovative quantum dataset compiled by ECIPE. This data offers new insights into the current state of quantum advancements. This comprehensive database sheds light on the roles of various actors – governments, industry, and academia – showcasing their contributions to the development of quantum technologies. By...
Media Mention
Longtime US allies say they have ways to fight back against Trump, and they’ll use them
Fredrik Erixon comments in POLITICO Europe how Europe's export controls could disrupt US production.
Media Mention
« Frapper où ça fait mal aux États-Unis… sans nous blesser » : le plan de Bruxelles face aux droits de douane
Fredrik Erixon advocates targeted, cautious EU responses to U.S. tariffs via Le Parisien.
Media Mention
Bitter pill or market opportunity – how will EU pharma adapt to RFK Jr’s health reforms?
Fredrik Erixon comments in Euractiv on EU sector for R&D-based pharma.
Media Mention
Accelerating Europe’s competitiveness
Summary of the conversation of Fredrik Erixon with Microsoft about European competitiveness and innovation.
Article
Vägen till ett förlorat ekonomiskt imperium
Fredrik Erixon writes about how Trump's tariffs signal economic retreat, ending Pax Americana's global dominance, for Dagens Industri.
Article
Europas passivitet har ett historiskt mönster
Fredrik Erixon writes for AXESS on how Trump's presidency has reshaped US-Europe ties, exposing Europe's security policy inertia.
Article
Répliquer à Trump sans mettre l’économie dans le rouge : le défi de l’UE
Fredrik Erixon is interviewed on how the EU should react to Trump's tariff on the BLOCS Substack by Clément Solal.
Article
Sr. Draghi, las exportaciones no son un lastre para la competitividad de la UE
Oscar Guinea and Fredrik Erixon write a piece for Agenda Pública criticising Mario Draghi's position on EU trade openness.
Book or Paper
The US and EU, and the Emerging Supply Chain Network: Politics, Prospects, and Allies
New book by Fredrik Erixon, Niklas Swanstrom and Mrittika Guha Sarkar where they explore strategic dependency and economic vulnerability, urging diversification, domestic investment, and international cooperation for a secure global landscape.
Book or Paper
Overcoming Barriers: How the EU Can Improve Trade Finance Access for Neighbouring Countries
Fourth paper crafted in collaboration with Bertelsmann Stiftung under the "Sovereign Europe: Strategic Management of Global Interdependence" project focusing on the relationships between the European Union (EU) and its neighbouring countries in financial services, with a particular focus on trade finance.
Book or Paper
Ett Starkare Europa Kräver Starkare Ekonomier – Varför Halkar Eu Efter?
Fredrik Erixon analyses why and how the EU's economy has lagged behind and been overtaken by others in recent decades for Frivärld - Stockholm Free World Forum.
Book or Paper
The EU’s Productivity Performance: Falling Behind the Curve
Fredrik Erixon, Oscar Guinea and Oscar du Roy write an article for the EconPol Forum 03/2024 Journal from CESifo based on their study "Keeping Up with the US: Why Europe’s Productivity Is Falling Behind".
Speech or Presentation
Episode 28: The European Union and the CPTPP
Fredrik Erixon discusses the CPTPP's future and the potential role of EU involvement on Trade Policy Decoded.
Speech or Presentation
Microsoft #TechTalk with Fredrik Erixon: Accelerating Europe’s Competitiveness
Fredrik Erixon sits down for a Microsoft #TechTalk to explore the biggest opportunities and challenges when it comes to reigniting Europe’s innovation engine.
Speech or Presentation
Innovation Illusion: How so Little is Created by Working So Hard
Fredrik Erixon highlights the key factors stifling corporate innovation during a presentation at the World Knowledge Forum 2024.
Speech or Presentation
Experten om Volvo Cars jakt på ny batteripartner: “Ett fåtal bolag”
Fredrik Erixon argues that European battery production independent of China is a "fantasy" via SVT.