INTRODUCTION
The Internal market has achieved significant economic improvements among the European Union. However, between the Single Market Programme expectations, that are developed in a first part, and the real impacts of the latter on the European Economy, some gaps are noticeable, as identified in the second part, which provides in addition the explanations underpinning such a shortfall. The following analysis undertaken illustrates this shortfall with several examples affecting several countries as well as different industries.
I. Single European Market Expectations
When it comes to develop the expectations of the Single European Market (SEM) it is necessary to refer to the work of Mr. Paolo Cecchini (1992). The latter, has established the first major study investigating the likely economic effects of the SEM completion.
His enquiry, which was realised upon the European Commission Vice president’s request, consisted, in an evaluation of the costs and benefits of the proposed Single Market (El Kahal, S., 1998, pp. 20-21) .
Thus, Mr. Cecchini, through his attempt to quantify the gains from completing the SEM, provided the following results:
A. MICRO-ECONOMIC GAINS : (Appendix N°1)
The internal market is supposed to enhance the general consumers’ economic welfare, through an array of “unqualified bonus”. (Cecchini, P., 1992, pp. 71-84)
? Prices convergence and reduction:
Under the impact of the competition pressures, an homogenization of the prices among the Community’s countries is predicted. Furthermore, the economies of scale, particularly, would produce, beyond this convergence, substantial prices reductions of goods and services as well as improvements in products choices and quality.
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