Britain, the European community and the single market of 1992: Reappraisal

There is much contemporary discussion about the impact on the UK of the creation of a single market amongst the member nations of the European Community (EC) in 1992. This impact needs to be assessed as precisely as possible given the unsubstantiated and conflicting claims being made. Because 1992 purports to be a further removal of trade barriers within the EC, the most accurate guide to its probable effect is a study of the impact of EC membership to date. This article analyses historical experience in order to reveal future trends.