French economists urge end to state support for declining sectors to revive national planning
Executive summary: Three French researchers published a tribune in Le Monde marking the 80th anniversary of the Commissariat général au plan, arguing that France should stop propping up sectors destined to decline. The proposal challenges current industrial policy and could redirect public spending toward more viable industries, affecting fiscal allocation and competitiveness.
Who is involved: Researchers Antoine Jourdan, Eric Monnet, Laurent Warlouzet; Le Monde; references to the Commissariat général au plan.
Likely next: Policy makers may debate subsidy reforms; potential shifts in state aid programs; possible pushback from affected industries.
The scholars argue that, on the 80th anniversary of the Commissariat général au plan, France must reassess its industrial policy by withdrawing aid from sectors with no long‑term viability. This would free fiscal space for strategic investments aligned with a renewed planning agenda. The proposal touches on ongoing debates about the effectiveness of state intervention and EU state‑aid rules.
Timeline
- — « Pour renouer avec la planification, il faut cesser de soutenir les secteurs qui ont vocation à décliner » (Le Monde — Économie)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Parliamentary debate on industrial policy reform
Sectors affected
- Declining industries (e.g., legacy manufacturing, coal)
- Strategic growth sectors (e.g., green tech, digital)
Regulatory implications
- EU state aid rules scrutiny
- National budget reallocation
- Possible revision of French planning law
Historical parallels
- 1960s French dirigisme and planification
- UK's industrial policy shifts in the 1980s
- Germany's Industrie 4.0 strategy
Key entities
Sources
- « Pour renouer avec la planification, il faut cesser de soutenir les secteurs qui ont vocation à décliner » — Le Monde — Économie
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