Country Report France September 2009

Summary

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will treat the improvement in his personal popularity ratings over the past year as a green light from voters to press ahead with his programme of incremental structural reforms.
Although the economy is slowly emerging from a recession, unemployment will continue to rise, prompting the centre-right government to increase spending on social programmes in a bid to limit the risk of social instability.
Mr Sarkozy will continue to try to implement some structural reforms??

Highlights
Outlook for 2009-10: Domestic politics
Outlook for 2009-10: International relations
Outlook for 2009-10: Policy trends
Outlook for 2009-10: Fiscal policy
Outlook for 2009-10: Monetary policy
Outlook for 2009-10: International assumptions
Outlook for 2009-10: Economic growth
Outlook for 2009-10: Inflation
Outlook for 2009-10: Exchange rates
Outlook for 2009-10: External sector
Outlook for 2009-10: Forecast summary
The political scene: Government sets out agenda for a busy parliamentary year
The political scene: Socialists may hold primaries to select presidential candidate
Economic policy: Preparation for the grand emprunt gets under way
Economic policy: Car scrapping subsidy is to be maintained in 2010
Economic policy: New carbon tax is to be included in 2010 budget
Economic performance: Economic indicators suggest a slow recovery is under way
Economic performance: Unemployment rises, but pace of job destruction slows
Economic performance: Sharp fall in trade deficit in July is unlikely to be repeated
Data and charts: Annual data and forecast
Data and charts: Quarterly data
Data and charts: Monthly data
Data and charts: Annual trends charts
Data and charts: Monthly trends charts
Data and charts: Comparative economic indicators
Basic data
Political structure