Fredrik Erixon
Email: fredrik.erixon@ecipe.org
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 Occasional Papers
Boosting Competitiveness: 10 Actions for Deeper and Better Capital Markets in EU Member States
Deeper, richer, and more sophisticated capital markets are central for boosting Europe’s competitiveness and prosperity. High-performing capital markets supply all types of firms – big and small – with multiple and varied opportunities to fund themselves and their growth at all stages of development. If Europe develops policies encouraging more savings to be invested in equities, bonds and securities there will be more funding available for EU companies....
ECIPE Policy Briefs
Time is Money: The Cost of Delaying the Ratification of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement
Between 2021 and 2025, the EU sacrificed €183bn in exports and €291bn in gross domestic product due to its failure to ratify the EU-Mercosur Agreement. These figures represent the net present value of economic activity that would have materialised had the agreement been implemented as originally scheduled in 2021. This accumulated nominal GDP loss, which reflects not only foregone exports but also unrealised gains from improved access to inputs and diversified...
ECIPE Occasional Papers
Quantum Clusters: Ranking the World’s Deep-Tech Epicentres
The ECIPE Quantum Project has so far laid the groundwork for understanding the global quantum landscape. It introduced the fundamentals of quantum technologies, assessed national activity in investment, scientific output, and patents, and charted international collaboration patterns to show that progress relies as much on shared expertise as on scientific breakthroughs. This work has now led to the next phase: identifying the innovation hubs within each country...
ECIPE Occasional Papers
The Services Revolution: Industrial Policy for a Modern Economy
A ”manufacturing-first” attitude has taken hold in the European economic policy discussion. New strategies and industrial policies are designed with the ambition of boosting development and output in traditional industrial sectors. These policies often build on the assumption that industrial development and jobs are “better” than new growth and employment in the services sector – that industry is a stronger source for innovation and higher productivity...
Media Mention
Mercosul. CIP lamenta “custos elevados” do atraso na ratificação do acordo
(Portuguese) The study "Time is Money: The Cost of Delaying the Ratification of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement" by Fredrik Erixon, Oscar Guinea, Philipp Lamprecht, and Elena Sisto is highlighted by RTP Noticias.
Media Mention
La UE perderá 4.400 millones por cada mes sin ratificar Mercosur
(Behind Paywall in Spanish) The study "Time is Money: The Cost of Delaying the Ratification of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement" by Fredrik Erixon, Oscar Guinea, Philipp Lamprecht, and Elena Sisto is highlighted by Expansión.
Media Mention
EU executive must decide whether to implement Mercosur deal despite setback from Parliament
The study "Time is Money: The Cost of Delaying the Ratification of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement" by Fredrik Erixon, Oscar Guinea, Philipp Lamprecht, and Elena Sisto is highlighted by El País.
Media Mention
Parlamento Europeu envia acordo da União Europeia com Mercosul para Tribunal europeu
(Portuguese) The study "Time is Money: The Cost of Delaying the Ratification of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement" by Fredrik Erixon, Oscar Guinea, Philipp Lamprecht, and Elena Sisto is highlighted by Observador.
Article
Europa får inte missa denna chans
(Swedish) Fredrik Erixon writes with Anna Stellinger about how approving the EU-Mercosur trade agreement now will maximise long-term economic benefits and demonstrate Europe's commitment to rules-based free trade via Dagens Industri.
Article
Fredrik Erixon, économiste suédois : “Sur le Mercosur, la France entretient ses agriculteurs dans le mensonge”
(Behind Paywall in French) Fredrik Erixon is interviewed by L'Express on the EU-Mercosur deal.
Article
U.S. Debt Crisis Poses Grave Global Economic Risk, Expert Warns
Fredrik Erixon is interviewed by The Chosun Daily on the US facing stagnation, US-China relations, the global economy faring better, the impact of AI, and South Korea's approach to innovation.
Article
Unpredictable Patterns #144: Revisiting the health of the public sphere
Fredrik Erixon writes an essay together with Nicklas Berild Lundblad, where they argue public sphere's "illness" arises from blurred contexts, and propose AI-mediated dialogue as a solution for healthier conflict resolution and reasonable disagreement.
Book or Paper
The Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index
Report developed with Bertelsmann Stiftung and The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw). It presents how interconnected the EU is with its neighbours compared to China, Russia, and the US – across trade, finance, and economic policy.
Book or Paper
Mitigating Burdens: Addressing the Impact of EU Sustainable Development Regulations on Neighbouring Countries
Fifth 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 the EU's indirect-land-use-change (ILUC) rules.
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.
Speech or Presentation
Grönland har gjort Trump helt ”unhinged”
(Sweden) Fredrik Erixon talks with Svenska Dagbladet on Donald Trump's threats on Greenland and new tariffs to EU countries.
Speech or Presentation
Lansering av rapporten Svenska techbranschen 2025
(Swedish) Fredrik Erixon discusses tech sector contributions to Sweden’s economy, export strengths, and global competitiveness amid global uncertainty in an event organised by TechSverige.
Speech or Presentation
Debatt i Lund: Är globaliseringen död – och ska vi i så fall sörja den?
Fredrik Erixon discusses globalisation in an event organised by the Lund University.
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.