Comments on: Economic hope: the Jacques Attali commission http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/ about everything, and especially the rest Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:11:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: ckgjrp gbykane http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-39 ckgjrp gbykane Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:53:35 +0000 http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-39 mdeatvjfu qsejxwth jivgyde uswkyx eqruf zfmsk qonhsflxg mdeatvjfu qsejxwth jivgyde uswkyx eqruf zfmsk qonhsflxg

]]> By: Laurent Kretz http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-17 Laurent Kretz Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:09:08 +0000 http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-17 @Miki: I get your point, I know France and I know how we can react sometimes. However, I feel we are on the verge of massive changes. The road is long, the president must be brave and prepared to face unsatisfaction, but the reforms are needed now, as you say. However, I would respond to you saying that you're a bit too negative about the potential of change. Example: - You speak about "the almighty worker unions that can paralyze the country": yesterday, we got an example of what the "minimum service" reforms would be, and it worked ! The aim is to break the strike movements, minimize their importance. And we'll get there soon (few years). - You say "French people don’t work enough": i'll bet you anything that before Sarkozy finishes his first term, the 35h are dead and buried. - Change is not accepted and reforms will lead to huge strikes and demonstrations ? You are right. Doesn't mean the government won't go through. In 2007, 500,000 blocked the entire country to fight for their early (50 to 55) retirement, but 65% to 75% of the rest of the people agreed with the reform. And it will be voted and accepted. I agree that French mentality is a real bridle for change, and we have the tools (strikes, mainly) to reject the reforms that "erode" our benefits. In more liberal economies as in the US, the concept is more "swim or sink" ("marche ou creve") whereas in France, it's "swim or strike" ... @Miki: I get your point, I know France and I know how we can react sometimes. However, I feel we are on the verge of massive changes. The road is long, the president must be brave and prepared to face unsatisfaction, but the reforms are needed now, as you say.

However, I would respond to you saying that you’re a bit too negative about the potential of change. Example:
- You speak about “the almighty worker unions that can paralyze the country”: yesterday, we got an example of what the “minimum service” reforms would be, and it worked ! The aim is to break the strike movements, minimize their importance. And we’ll get there soon (few years).
- You say “French people don’t work enough”: i’ll bet you anything that before Sarkozy finishes his first term, the 35h are dead and buried.
- Change is not accepted and reforms will lead to huge strikes and demonstrations ? You are right. Doesn’t mean the government won’t go through. In 2007, 500,000 blocked the entire country to fight for their early (50 to 55) retirement, but 65% to 75% of the rest of the people agreed with the reform. And it will be voted and accepted.

I agree that French mentality is a real bridle for change, and we have the tools (strikes, mainly) to reject the reforms that “erode” our benefits. In more liberal economies as in the US, the concept is more “swim or sink” (”marche ou creve”) whereas in France, it’s “swim or strike” …

]]> By: Miki http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-16 Miki Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:49:34 +0000 http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-16 I would add that the purpose of these reforms is to reach full-employment by 2012 (I'm not sure, but I think so), based on the British or Danish examples. Can you actually believe that? Let me just give you some of the reasons why France is stuck right now and why I believe this will not happen because French hate change: -We are talking about France, the country with the almighty worker unions that can paralyze the country in the less than a week. The country where people don't want to work. Only 8% of employees are in an union, but they have enough power to launch a nationwide strike (remember what happenened a couple of months ago). -French people don't work enough: 35 hours a week. It's the lowest in Europe and probably in the world! -French people do not accept change! As soon as law proposal to reform contracts, working time or social benefits you will have huge strikes and demonstrations (remember 1995, 2007?). The problem is much more about mentatlity rather than economical reforms (that we also need of course). That's why 2012 seems a bit too soon for me, only the next generation will accept those changes. But won't it be too late? I would add that the purpose of these reforms is to reach full-employment by 2012 (I’m not sure, but I think so), based on the British or Danish examples. Can you actually believe that?
Let me just give you some of the reasons why France is stuck right now and why I believe this will not happen because French hate change:
-We are talking about France, the country with the almighty worker unions that can paralyze the country in the less than a week. The country where people don’t want to work. Only 8% of employees are in an union, but they have enough power to launch a nationwide strike (remember what happenened a couple of months ago).
-French people don’t work enough: 35 hours a week. It’s the lowest in Europe and probably in the world!
-French people do not accept change! As soon as law proposal to reform contracts, working time or social benefits you will have huge strikes and demonstrations (remember 1995, 2007?).
The problem is much more about mentatlity rather than economical reforms (that we also need of course). That’s why 2012 seems a bit too soon for me, only the next generation will accept those changes. But won’t it be too late?

]]> By: Economic hope: the Jacques Attali commission · HDTV Information, Reviews, and Deals http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-15 Economic hope: the Jacques Attali commission · HDTV Information, Reviews, and Deals Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:12:10 +0000 http://www.laurentk.com/2008/01/economic-hope-the-jacques-attali-commission/#comment-15 [...] Original post by Laurent Kretz [...] […] Original post by Laurent Kretz […]

]]>