Privatisation, dirigisme and the global economy: An end to French exceptionalism?
Title:
Privatisation, dirigisme and the global economy: An end to French exceptionalism?
Author:
Maclean, Mairi
Appeared in:
Modern & contemporary France
Paging:
Volume 5 (1997) nr. 2 pages 215-227
Year:
1997-05
Contents:
In the course of the past ten years (1986-1996), privatisation in France has served as something of a mirror to a changing society. The old system, conceived in the postwar era of 'Thirty Glorious Years', has proved to be no longer viable in the new world order, characterised by the internationalisation of economies. As France feels its way towards new structures, this article considers the role played by privatisation policy in the undoing (or not) of dirigisme, examining the effect of the various waves of privatisation in France to date: 1986-1988, 1993-1995, 1995-1996. It concentrates, however, on the most recent privatisations, and questions the future of dirigisme in the radically changed competitive environment of the global economy in the 1990s. It is suggested that there has been an assault on dirigisme, but that this has come not from privatisation per se but from the internationalisation process, in which privatisation has played a role. It is also suggested that the noyaux durs, by far and away the most contentious aspect of privatisation in France, are beginning to show signs of change, small but significant, displaying a growing economic realism, the effect of which is to dilute further the power to the State of dictate choices.
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