Getting to know the economic/social linkages in UK/Europe

[Mr P.A. Van Heusden]

As a South African recently arrived in the UK, I'm trying to get a handle
on the UK and European economic/social structures, and where the interests
of the local ruling classes are heading. Can anyone point me to resources
(preferably websites, although I will have a more limited ability to try
and acquire paper resources) on:

1) Economic/social structure - breakdown of professions, educational
levels, income levels and so on for the UK/European workforce.

2) Breakdown of GDP/GNP of UK/Europe by industry

3) Economic blocs in UK/Europe and trends of ownership

4) Linkages with other areas - i.e. ownership by other blocs (e.g. US
capital) and ownership in other areas (i.e. foreign economic interests)

I know this is a rather tall order, but I'm trying to find a more
efficient way to get up to speed than reading the FT.

Thanks,
Peter
--
Peter van Heusden : pvanheus at hgmp.mrc.ac.uk
'The demand to give up illusions about the existing state of affairs is the 
demand to give up a state of affairs which needs illusions.' - Karl Marx