Britain's great bet: wagering on the future of Europe.

• Author: Schuknecht, Ludger
• Position: European Union

Our British friends have a long history of betting on all kind of things. And so they bet on the result of the EU membership referendum set for June 23, 2016. According to the latest bookmakers' quotes, the United Kingdom would leave; so betting on "stay" may be rewarded with higher returns. In my view, the same holds true for the real world. Let me give you three reasons why.

First, it takes two to tango. The United Kingdom stands for competitiveness, for liberal trade, and for a flexible market economy. These are objectives we share in the European Union and especially in Germany. These are objectives we all need to pursue if we are to safeguard achieved prosperity, living standards, and stability. Losing the United Kingdom's liberal voice within the European architecture would weaken the European Union economically and politically. A weakened European Union, in turn, would by no means be in the interest of the United Kingdom as interlinkages via trade, the financial market, and not least international diplomacy are likely to remain important. If one side of the Channel suffers, the other cannot prosper.

Second, strong powers still set the rules of the game in global politics and economics. And we need good rules to have a good game. Since the last debate on British EU membership in the 1970s, global powers have shifted hugely, making individual European countries tiny wheels in a globalized world. Hence, it is better to be part of Club Europe and play a strong hand from within.

Third, as with any club, the option of "leaving the European Union" exists--at least in theory. However, the option of "leaving Europe" does not. The United Kingdom will always be a part of Europe, no matter how frequently some may point to an alleged divide between continental Europe and "the islands." How much say in the European decision-making process the Brits would have crucially hinges on them being members in the club or not. Outside, the United Kingdom will be more at "the mercy" of both Europe and others. And Europe might be a less liberal player than the United Kingdom could make it.

Still, the referendum debate has its pros. It has initiated a helpful and necessary debate on centralization versus subsidiarity in the European Union. It is true that issues of a global dimension require common solutions. The single market, effective and even-handed financial sector regulation, and foreign and security policy are aspects that greatly benefit from a...