Watch in replay the discussion with Jeffrey Franks, IMF’s Mission Chief for France, and Michel Aglietta, emeritus professor of economy at the University Paris X Nanterre and scientific counsellor at the CEPII and France Stratégie.

The French economy was one of the hardest hit by the COVID pandemic, but it has also recovered more quickly than most in Europe, with employment and GDP both above their pre-crisis levels by the end of 2021. Strong policy action by the government has been one of the drivers of this robust response. Now, however, French policymakers need to begin thinking about two major challenges for the medium- and long-term:  i) how to deal with large debt and high deficits aggravated by the crisis; and ii) how to help France handle the digital and green transitions, which require large shifts in the structure of the economy and major investments in both people and technology. The presentation outlines the IMF’s analysis on how France handled the crisis along with their recommendations for the future.

As an extension of the Country Profiles, the CEPII has designed the Region Profiles, interactive pages based on its statistical databases. A synthetic analysis tool for globalisation, these visual data allow to characterise the international integration of the 8 major regions making up the world, as well as that of 10 integrated economic areas. The integration patterns can be compared from one region to another, in particular by distinguishing internal exchanges from those carried out with the rest of the world. The data are provided in the form of didactic illustrations over seven categories: broad patterns, projections, balance & forex, tariff protection, comparative advantages, types & ranges, products & partners. The Region Profiles are provided for informational, educational and research purposes, and are freely and publicly available.

"Even in the absence of a full embargo, war-induced disruptions are already threatening food security in vulnerable nations, and could hit key European and American industries from cars to aircraft, already stretched by Covid-19", suggests "The Economist" basing upon the CEPII's databases.

International Economics is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to the publication of research in the area of applied international economics (international trade, commercial policy, open economy macroeconomics, international finance, exchange rates, financial and monetary policies, economic development, migration and factor movements).

The May 2022 issue is in progress but contains articles that are final and fully citable.