Socio-economic aspects of fusion: research in the European context

In conjunction with the EURATOM fusion programme, a research effort, Socio-Economic Research on Fusion, was initiated in 1996. Five areas are covered: long-term scenarios, economic (production) costs, external costs and benefits, fusion as a large technical system and public opinion. The paper summarizes the state of the programme by August 1998. The programme will be reported by spring 1999.