Variability and origin of permanent radio emission in RS CVn and Algol type binaries

The variability of the radio emission of RS CVn and Algol type binaries has been observed over 70 hours by Lefèvre et al. (1993). In this contribution simple model calculations are applied to discuss the relevant time scales. It is concluded that a significant fraction of the permanent radio emission of these systems is due to flare-like processes of energy release over a wide range of energies.