The Current Eurozone - An Impediment to Critical French Reform
19 Pages Posted: 5 Oct 2013
Date Written: March 14, 2013
Abstract
France currently needs deep structural reforms to boost competitiveness; but such reforms seem impossible while France remains in the straitjacket of the rules-bound transfer union that is the current Eurozone. High outstanding sovereign debt coupled with almost zero economic growth pose a real challenge to the French economy saved only by the relatively low government bond yield but this is subject to market swings. An unacceptably large proportion of the French workforce is trapped in long-term unemployment with the most affected part of the population being the young and older workers suffering from long-term unemployment because of the adverse incentives brought about by a social safety net financed by taxing labour.
Keywords: Euro, transfers, internal devalution, current account, public debt
JEL Classification: E42, E58, E61
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation