The European Community is often cited as a successful example of regional integration. In Discussion Paper No. 755, Programme Director L Alan Winters assesses the extent to which its member countries' economic advance has been due to EC membership. Intra-EC income differences have narrowed and there has been significant reorientation of trade, but the Common Agricultural Policy wastes over 1.5% of total EC real income, and there have been increasing non-tariff barriers, high subsidies and technological weakness.

L Alan Winters presented this paper at a February lunchtime meeting, reported in more detail in this issue of the Bulletin.

The European Community: A Case of Successful Integration?
L Alan Winters

Discussion Paper No. 755, January 1993 (IT)