[Torie]

I am no expert, but the French have a tried and true simple uniform design. This is one example where big government was efficacious.

[Rodney King]

I am no expert, but the French have a tried and true simple uniform design. This is one example where big government was efficacious.

OK. I was just wondering if the greater efficiency is in the design, or if perhaps it results simply from using the same design, be it an intrinsically "better" design or not.

[brutuss]

You are essentially correct, however lets not give em too much credit. The French use Westinghouse nuclear plant design (American), but build lots of identical plants, generally with several units at each site. They are all not identical, but they built lots of each type they do employ. Some American utilities were smart enough to do this with similar results. Duke Power, for example, has seven units; 4 identical Westinghouse plants, 3 identical B&W units.