Institutional and Technological Co-Evolution in the French Electronuclear Industry

This paper discusses performance in the French nuclear industry, which is, especially in comparative perspective, a significant success. It emphasizes the interaction and co-evolution of institutions, organizational patterns and the technological regime in the industry. As deregulation in the electricity industry is spreading across the industrialized countries, the success of the French nuclear sector limits the scope for liberalization in France - a situation that is likely to keep France on this technological trajectory for power generation. The paper concludes by assessing the sustainability of the system thus generated.