Contenu du sommaire

The possibilities for Economie Cooperation in Europe. On September 21, 1977 a meeting took place in Brussels between Mr. Marinescu, Acting President of the Executive Committee of Comecon and Mr. Simonet, Acting President of the Council of the European Community. This contact seemed to mark a step forward in economic relations between the two blocs and make it possible to foresee the beginning of négociations in the Spring of 1978. The aim of our study is to examine the evolution of the propositions and concepts, to analyse the intentions and interests of each partner and to explain the relationship linking the négociations between the EEC and the Comecon to the final acts of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The problems evoked here are presented in the following order; first an attempt is made to explain the reasons for the initiatives taken in this field by the member countries of the Comecon up to the present time, to present the economic interests of the member countries of the two communities within the framework of the statutes and rules in vigor and finally to examine in detail the initiatives taken on both sides which lead to the final conclusions.

Equalitarian Modes of Thought (Reflections Based on a Field Study in Poland). This study describes the different modes of thought on equality that emerge from three pilot studies carried on in Poland in 1973. Although representative samples of the population were not chosen for these inquiries, certain main currents of thought regarding equality are reflected in the responses. The article attempts to elucidate the different ways in which the notion of equality is perceived by the Polish people, how it is articulated with the notion of social justice and the pessimism or the optimism of the attitudes regarding the practical realisation of equalitarian ideals. Do they form a coherent cognizant system? The responses "defined" social equality in various ways. Different connotations furnished in the first series of interviews were in fact noted with regard to such key concepts as social justice, social equality, and equal chances. For some, social equality is the sum of rights in different fields; equal chances can make it possible to obtain a good education as well as an equal right to medical care in case of illness, the right to legal defense, salary equality and equal prestige for professional occupation, whatever the societal demands may be. For others, the notion of equality is associated with all the injustices and inequalities existing in society today. It was discovered that the differences have a bearing on the chain of thought from which these definitions originates; for the workers, the point of departure is social injustice, while for the members of the intelligentsia it is the hierarchy of values. Other dividing lines are discernible in the analysis of the contents of the semi- guided interviews as well as what arguments are proposed against the system of social equality. For some the notion of equality evokes equality of needs; for others, equality of recompense; for still others impossibility to realize equalitarial ideals.

Social determinants of Recruitment into and Membership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Social status, rather than policy, seems to be the predominant influence on the process of political recruitment in the U.S.SJl. Even though manual workers are preferred at the initial stage of candidacy of the party, it is doubtful that all workers have an equal chance of recruitment. It is more likely that, as is the case among white-collar employees and collective farmers, those with higher skills (and therefore status) are more likely to be recruited. A second set of influences on recruitment comprises nationality and geographical location. The recruitment of persons belonging to the nominal nationality of a union republic is more likely the greater the latter's geographical and cultural distance from Moscow, and the lower the level of economic development. In social composition, the entire CPSU organization ? probationary candidate recruits and full members together ? is remarkably distinct from the Soviet population. In terms of a number of indicators, such as sex, age, education, and occupation, it clearly enjoys higher status. The gap, however, between the lay public and the party is closing, albeit slowly. This indicates that the policy of working-class recruitment is having some effect, as well as that modernization is also reducing the differences between society and party. In a similar way, modernization is diminishing the differential rates of participation in the CPSU by the various nationalities.

Population Trends in Bulgaria. Patterns of demographic change in Bulgaria correspond to those of most European countries: diminishing rates of growth of total population with factors being urbanization, declining birth and fertility rates. The present study analyses this development in the years 1950-1974 based on ample statistics. The author describes the Bulgarian government's attempts of 1968 and 1973 to halt further deterioration of the demographic situation by launching pronatalist programs. At last relevant trends of birth rates, natural increase and total population until 1985 are estimated and discussed with regard to their implications for future economic growth on the country.

The Evolution of Methods in Rating Investment Efficiency in Poland. The starting point of the paper is the definition of the relative and absolute investment efficiency and their interrelation. Thus, three, historically formed types of economic calculation in investment have been specified, namely the stationary calculation of relative efficiency of investment, the stationary calculation of absolute investment efficiency and the dynamic calculation of absolute efficiency of investment. Main attention is focused on the analysis of calculation methods of economic efficiency of investment which have been in operation in Poland since 1962. The author provides an evaluation of those methods, and, among others, points out the following: there is a need of such calculation in which the limitation of human labour would be treated differently than the limitation of better working conditions; the calculation should be based on one synthetic criterion of choice; the use of foreign market prices in the calculation is not justified. The author's proposals aim at building up such method of investment efficiency calculation in which investment decisions would be made on the basis of comparing the sum of the profit from the analysed investment project discounted for a given moment with the sum of correspondingly discounted lost profit resulting from the limitation of means which can be disposed of for investment ends. The comparison of the proposed method with the method in operation allowed the author to formulate some comments on parameters used in the actually applied method of investment efficency calculation.

The Influence of Material Incentives and Success Indicators on Technical Progress and Production. The first part covers a description of the system of standards applied to success indicators and material incentives in Polish economy. The author examines the standards of success, concluding that their incoherence results not from the way in which the standards are constructed but from the premises on which the present system of management in Poland is grounded. He not only analyses the standards applied to industry but to research and development entities as well, essential links in technical progress. Linkering remuneration with incentives, he esteems that they are inadequately coordinated with the results of economic activity. There is for instance, no concerted long-term salary policy. In the second part, the author proposes several alternatives designed to increase the effectiveness of success indicators and incentives and to remedy the incoherencies noted in the first part of the article.

Territorial Divisions ans Socio-political Transformations in Poland. The author presents the historical background of territorial divisions in Poland since the Ancient Regime to the present time. He traces a panoramic vision of Polish society before the divisions (the nobility occupied the preponderant position and of its evolution .in the course of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th Century, marking the rebirth of Poland as an independent state. At the end of World War II, the Polish state returned to the pre-war system of territorial divisions (voivodies) with the necessary corrections resulting from the concession of a large part of her territory to the U.S.S.R. and from the annexation of former Polish territories to the East and North. However, in view of the economic and social development of the country, these administrative divisions rapidly became unsatisfactory. A major reform was then implemented in 1975, providing for an administrative division of the state into new unities, including, a first level (the communes) and a second level (composed of 49 voivodies), which for the most part constitute economically homogenious unities.

Revisions in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Romania. This article presents the recent modifications in the Constitution of Romania. The changes mentioned essentially concern social and political organizations. For example, the role of the communist party is affirmed by the Constitution as well as that of the United Socialist Front. Modifications were also made in central and local power and in the administration. The position of the parliament remains relatively unchanged, but amendments have been adopted relevant to its composition, the length of tenure and the revocation of its representatives. The State Council has undergone substantial remodeling. Its usual prerogatives are reduced while those exercised "in the place of" parliament are only slightly curtailed. Independent of these changes, the composition of the State Council has greatly evolved in the course of the years. Under the constitutional revision of 1974 the structure of the Council of Ministers is modified although its prerogatives, despite certain amendments, are not restricted to any degree. Under the new system, the respective .presidents of the National Federation of Trade Unions, the National Association of Agricultural Cooperatives, the National League of Women and the First Secretary of the Young Communists Association are on equal footing with the ministers. The most significant change in the state institutions is in the functions of the President of the Republic who becomes the unique chief of State. The importance of the role of the President of the Republic is underlined by the fact that the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party has been invested with the fonctions of President. (In enumerating the powers of the President the Constitution qualifies them as "fundamental"; those of the National Assembly, the Council of State and the Council of Ministers also fall under this heading). It may be deduced that ordinary legislation can attribute additional powers to him as well. The evolution in the attribution of power in Romania reflects determination in the conception of the system of State organisms, the role of leadership of the Communist Party and the relationship between the Party and the State.