France encounters globalization

Book abstract:

'France is for the French' has been the watch word of French trade policy for decades and a matter of amusement and annoyance to France watchers. More recently, technological development and globalisation have brought about the opening of French markets to international competition and have forced a rethink in French government with the necessary restructuring proving difficult for French producers.

This work is the first in English to explore the French economy and its response to these outside influences. Organised over eight chapters the book opens with discussion of the major positions and publications in this public policy debate and moves on to explore the structural evolution of the period 1945-98. The role of the state is the substance of discussion in chapter three and it is in this area that the attitude giving voice to 'France is for the French' is strongest, and indeed the French state remains the most significant state redistributor of income in the world today. France's trade and financial relations with the external economy are discussed in chapter four with time given to explore the influence of the EU and France's relationship with the Third World. Chapter five explores the issues of employment and incomes and the substantial changes France has experienced in these areas during the second half of the 20th Century. Economic restructuring and the development of output are the matters explored in chapter six. The freeing up of companies from state intervention has been the most significant outcome of the increasingly competitive market place that follows on from globalisation. Agriculture has especially changed and is now much more customer orientated and highly productive and the contingent food processing activities have changed the rural outlook. Regional development has been a significant factor in the French response to globalisation and the important issues of increased regional autonomy, restructuring of economic decision making loci, and the rise and fall of specific industries are examined closely in chapter seven. The final chapter looks at 'Prospects for the French Economy' and concludes with a positive outlook of continuing liberalisation of labour and capital markets, increasing competitiveness from French companies and despite protestations by the Institut Français globalisation may mean more Americanisation. But don't we all suffer that? Plus ça change!

Economists, political scientists and business scholars will be interested in this comprehensive study.

Peter Karl Kresl has been Professor of Economics and International Relations at Bucknell University, USA since 1969.

Sylvain Gallais has been Professor of Economics and Political Science at Université François Rabelais, France since 1969.