2023-04-17 10:26:00
LA TRIBUNE – The title of your latest work points to “France of the nearer”. Is France in favor of the least effort?
NICOLAS BOUZOU – There is no question of generalizing so much. Certain indicators show that France is one of the OECD countries where people work the most. No, France is not suffering from an epidemic of laziness. The main problem is the decline of the idea of a job well done. This was seen in the rate of disengagement which was called the great resignation. However, this phenomenon is now relativized. It’s more regarding rotation than resignation. There is also a share of corporate responsibility. The lockdown has helped to change the way we look at work, leading to a step back and an increased demand for autonomy, meaning…
Is the search for sovereignty – digital, industrial, food – a utopia?
In terms of reindustrialisation, we have an obligation on paper. Reindustrialization disrupts supply chains, reduces globalization. But if we want to reindustrialize, we have to accept the factories. However, part of the population wants real reindustrialisation, but not factories. We are thus confronted with our contradictions.
The country, the world is facing a crisis. However, we have never talked so much regarding superprofit taxation. Is this really the heart of the problem?
There is a growing resentment in our country. NUPES instrumentalizes a policy on this. However, this has nothing to do with the issues facing France in terms of investment, carbon-free energy, education… It’s a bad passion. This stems from the loss of the valuation of excellence. This is what makes the bosses of big companies vilified. Bernard Arnault, the CEO of the LVMH group, is widely criticized in France, in particular for being the richest man in the world. But LVMH is a group made up of several companies that employ hundreds of thousands of people.
We also talked a lot regarding the concept of happy degrowth…
Decarbonization, whatever one may say, inevitably produces growth. It is regarding inventing, implementing circular economies that generate new jobs. Degrowth, in practice, supposes going through prohibitions. And then the banning process never stops.
A subject is also currently being debated: that of companies buying back their shares. Is this a good thing or not?
If the company has not identified an investment project in the real economy, it is right to buy back its shares. But these are companies that must significantly increase wages. If employees are asked to make an effort, they must be able to benefit from the fruits of their labor, particularly in the face of a loss of purchasing power.
In your book, you mention the broad subject of research. In the country of the Research Tax Credit (CIR), which is a French particularity, is there a lack of excellence in R&D?
France is not a very innovative country on certain subjects. AI (artificial intelligence), digital, deeptech… We do not have any game changer. And this is not only a French problem, it is also a European problem. If we want to be on a level playing field with China, for example, we need to have the policy that goes with it. As for the question of regulating AI, we are beside the point. We don’t have a structured policy, but we have a moral thought. However, it is not morality that makes growth. I’m not saying there shouldn’t be regulation. But we must not ban what we have not been able to do.
Do we need a more protectionist France?
No, because in protectionism, everyone loses. We need to be more pragmatic in business aid. Let’s take the example of the American IRA (Inflation Reduction Act, editor’s note): from the moment when in the United States money is channeled towards companies in order to decarbonize industry, Europe must do the same. This is common sense. In terms of taxation, in France, production taxes have fallen. Business investment remains high. As far as projects are concerned, we are well placed. And, there are jobs. The major problem that concerns companies is therefore much more a normative issue than a tax issue.
Should we take inspiration from our European neighbours?
There are plenty of things to do! The step to climb, in France, is not that high. The situation deteriorated little by little and, by force, we ended up in a collapse. This is what happened in the field of education, in the field of health with the crisis affecting the hospital. And it happened without our realizing it. We have to attack well-meaning. The main subject is clearly that of National Education. Because in the matter, it is almost.
How to change mentality?
It is necessary to value the examples of success, to make a media counterweight. And this in the industrial, sporting field… The media have an important role to play. Athletes like Kylian Mbappé help to promote a good image of a successful France. The revaluation of excellence in our country is fundamental.
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