The European Communications Policy Research Conference has taken place the fourth time since its founding in 1986. The main objective of all conferences held so far was to be a forum where social scientists, economists, engineers as well as lawyers come together to debate about current research in the field of European communications policy. The last three conferences were organized by the Centre for Communication and Information Studies (CCIS) in London and its director Nicholas Garnham. At the 1988 Conference all participants agreed that the conference should have a future and that in particular the original ambition of the conference should be realized more fully by making it a truly European event. In the meantime, it has been proven to be possible to host the conference on a circulating yearly basis in various European countries. The Organizing Committee for this year's conference contained members from The Netherlands, France, UK and West-Germany. This year's conference was hosted and organized by WIK and held in Kronberg, West-Germany.

InhaltsangabeI Introduction.- 1 Introduction: Current Issues in European Communications Polic.- 1. Characteristics of Recent Developments in Communications Policy.- 2. An Introduction to the Studies.- II Tariff and Competition Policies.- 2 Restructuring Telecommunication Tariffs: Policy Issues, Trends and Implication.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Cost/Price Controversy.- 3. The Telecommunication User's Perspective.- 4. Selected Trends in Switched Service Pricing.- 5. Conclusion.- 3 The Optimum Access Charge Under Competitio.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Model.- 3. The Total Social Welfare.- 4. Access Charge: Two Viewpoints.- 5. Concluding Remarks.- 4 The Regulation of Competition and Entry in Markets for U.K. Telecommunications Services.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Developments in Telecoms Regulation since 1984.- 3. The Communications Infrastructure, Competition and the Duopoly Review.- 4. Price-Capping and Entry.- 5. Conclusions.- Comment Part II Godefroy Dang-Nguyen.- III International and Industrial Aspects of Telecommunications.- 5 Research and Development in Telecommunications: An International Compariso.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Some Theoretical and Methodological Remarks.- 3. International Comparison of R&D Expenditure.- 4. International Comparison of Patents.- 5. Characteristics of the National R&D Systems.- 6. Conclusions.- 6 Alternative Settlement Procedures in International Telecommunications Servic.- 1. Settlements in Telecommunications Services.- 2. International Settlements Simulation.- 3. Results.- 4. Conclusion.- Appendix A.- Appendix B.- Appendix C.- Comment Chapters 5 and 6 Hans-Peter Gassmann.- 7 Multinational Banking, the Theory of the Division of Labor and the Information and Communications Technologie.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Technology and the Extent of the Market.- 3. Internationalization and Multinationalization of Financial Markets.- 4. A Case Study.- 5. Theories of Internationalization.- 6. The Economic Theory of the Division of Labor.- 7. Banking and the International Division of Labor.- 8. Conclusion.- Comment Chapter David Mllen.- IV Regulatory Models and Policies.- 8 Changing Regulatory Policies: The Danish Case.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Organisation and Regulatory Tradition of the Danish Telecommunications Industry.- 3. Present Development of Regulatory Policies.- 4. Some Theoretical Reflections.- 5. Comparative Advantages of Denmark Facing an Internal Market for the Telecommunications Industry.- 6. Concluding Remarks.- 9 Chances and Problems of Liberalization of Telecommunications in Hungar.- 1. Economic Problems - Legislative Changes in Hungary.- 2. The Situation and Future of Hungarian Telecommunications.- 3. Restructuring of the Hungarian PTT.- Appendix: Comparison of Joint Ventures in the East European Countries.- 10 Regulatory Instruments and EEC Powers to Regulate Telecommunications Services in Europ.- 1. Regulatory Instruments.- 2. Regulatory Powers in the Telecommunications Field.- 3. Directives and Technical Standards.- 4. European Policy-Making in the Telecommunications Field: Preliminary Remarks.- Comment Part IV W. R. B. Wigglesworth.- V Convergence of Broadcasting and Telecommunications.- 11 Diverging Regulatory Scenarios for Integrating Broadband Communication.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Systems Organization.- 3. Service Requirements.- 4. Regulation Policies.- 5. Evolving Regulatory Scenarios.- 6. Conclusions.- 12 The Convergence of Broadcasting and Telecommunications in Japa.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Background of the Convergence of Broadcasting and Telecommunications.- 3. Main Issues in Policy Making with Regard to Convergence of Broadcasting and Telecommunications.- 4. Theoretical Considerations.- 5. Conclusion.- 13 Telecommunication and Audiovisual Legal Regimes in Franc.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Licensing.- 3. Licences.- 4. Concluding Notes.- Comment Part V Nicholas Garnham.- List of Contributors.