EC Member Countries Research Articles

Market potential of small and medium-size nuclear reactors as combined heat and power plants in Europe

The preliminary results are presented concerning a study launched by the Commission of the European Communities to assess the potential market of small and medium-size nuclear reactors through EC Member countries. The study was aimed at identifying those factors that may have a role in shaping the eventual deployment and diffusion of this class of nuclear reactors. In a first phase, attention focused on modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactors that would be installed to produce low-temperature heat and power. Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and France are the countries for which the investigation has been completed. The time span of interest is up to the year 2020. Referring to this horizon, an appraisal has been made of the number of nuclear units which could come on line to cope with energy demand and their timing. Through the study a distinction is made between technical potential, economic potential, and effective market potential. It is understood indeed that both economic competitiveness towards other energy sources and also institutional or organizational factors may restrict the market which could become accessible and would be covered by the new nuclear plants.

Food irradiation

Food irradiation has become a matter of topical interest also in the Federal Republic of Germany following applications for exemptions concerning irradiation tests of spices. After risks to human health by irradiation doses up to a level sufficient for product pasteurization were excluded, irradiation now offers a method suitable primarily for the disinfestation of fruit and decontamination of frozen and dried food. Codex Alimentarius standards which refer also to supervision and dosimetry have been established; they should be adopted as national law. However, in the majority of cases where individual countries including EC member-countries so far permitted food irradiation, these standards were not yet used. Approval irradiation technique for industrial use is available. Several industrial food irradiation plants, partly working also on a contractual basis, are already in operation in various countries. Consumer response still is largely unknown; since irradiated food is labelled, consumption of irradiated food will be decided upon by consumers.

Recommendations by the solar energy R & D programme of the European Community

Within the European Community's Solar Energy R & D Programme, the Commission in Brussels has established an important cooperation with the Meteorological Offices of the EC Member Countries and various other solar energy laboratories, known as Project F. Within this framework, an expert group has been established to prepare recommendations for units and symbols in solar energy. The present article was drawn from their work. It is important to note that the main aim was to employ symbols which are clear, simple and easy to use, for instance on computers. The use of these units and symbols are strongly recommended for future EC publications on solar energy.

Party Government in Public Opinion: A European Cross‐National Comparison*

ABSTRACTOn the basis of Easton's concept of political support, an indicator of diffuse support for party government is developed. This is contrasted theoretically as well as empirically with two indicators of support for political authorities: party identification and satisfaction with democracy. Data on these indicators are contrasted across the EC member countries. Specifying the sociopolitical basis of party government support, social‐structural, attitudinal, and political‐structural correlates of this support dimension are presented and discussed.

Aggregate factor input and productivity in agriculture: A comparison for the EC-member countries, 1963–76

A description is given in this article of the development of total production, aggregate factor input and total factor productivity within the agricultural sector of the EC-member countries. The first part contains a comparative analysis of various input capacities and their time profiles. Comparability of data base and methodology is emphasized. Individual factor components (labour, machinery and buildings, land and variable inputs) are then aggregated by using a Divisia-chain index with variable weights. A similar aggregation is performed for total production and finally an international comparison of the index of total factor productivity is presented. The results indicate that both the rates of change and the time profiles of the total factor input have been very different in the various countries. Moreover, the differences in factor productivities have grown. Countries, which had already reached a comparatively high level of factor productivity, have also had the highest growth rates of the productivity index. The growth rate of the agricultural total productivity within the EC-9 has slightly increased, by an average 1.8% between 1963 and 1976. Although the capacity of the total factor input has increased in some countries, it has shrunk in others, namely in Germany, Great Britain and Denmark. On average, within the EC-9, the decline of labour and land inputs has been compensated by the increased use of variable inputs and capital. Hence, the total factor input in the agricultural sector of the EC-9 has remained fairly constant, so that the growth rates of agricultural production and productivity have been at the same average rate of 2% per year.

Has the EC reached the point of no return?

Even according to a report by the EC-Commission the economic divergencies between the individual EC member countries have shown an increase during the last three years1. A protracted disintegration movement would inevitably lead to a weakening and even to the end of the free social and economic systems such as we know them in West Europe today. Has the EC already reached the point of no return?

Harmonization of company taxation systems

The author of the following article gives a survey of the different corporation tax systems and rates in the individual EC-member countries, explains the need for a harmonization of direct company taxation within the Community, and discusses the Commission’s recent proposal as compared with other possible approaches.