ℝ2n+1 is a universal contact manifold for reduction

We show that all contact manifolds can be obtained by reduction from a universal contact manifold ℝ2N+1. We also prove an equivariant version and discuss the relationship with the corresponding results for symplectic manifolds. © 1997This work has been partially supported through a Joint Research Project CSIC-CNRS. The authors also acknowledge the support by the >Consejería de Educación del Gobierno de Canarias> and the DGICYT-Spain, Proyecto PB94-0106.Peer Reviewe