Ethical Aspects of Current French Economic Policies the French System of Planning

Abstract

Given the not so cordial state of current Franco-American relations, I had best begin this paper with a repudiation of some of the possible implications of its title. I will not have the impertinence of a foreigner who, despite great admiration and greater affection for la France, would presume to hand down judgments upon her economic policies. Many and some of the most basic policies are so intimately part and parcel of French foreign policy and Gaullist ambitions for the Fifth Republic that a citizen of the United States, almost as a matter of principle, is incapable of thoroughly disinterested ethical analysis. Thus it would be inappropriate, if not unethical, for me to evaluate the French attitude toward British entry into the European Economic Community, apparent reluctance to grant significant tariff reductions under the Kennedy round, fear of domination from growing investments by U.S. Corporations, and so on. And, of course, it would also be improper to deal with the question of French aid to developing nations, even though that aid averaged above 2% of GNP from 1956 to 1961 and has only recently fallen to a level that is more than double the American effort.1 Similarly it would be unjustified interference in domestic affairs to comment upon the interesting and much discussed proposals for reform of the French business firm suggested by a distinguished public servant.2 And finally, even if it were possible to supress nationalistic bias, my personal value judgments might not be considered impartial inasmuch as they are akin to those of French citizens who are overly critical in a nation of critics. Active respect for another nation's policies and plan objectivity would seem to require a discreetly descriptive method, a tranquilizer in every sense of the word. Fortunately, however, there is one policy which the French themselves consider an exciting experiment, worthy of the new France and her revolutionary tradition?worthy, too, of imitation. It is almost certain that knowledgeable Frenchmen would object if an outsider were to confine himself to pallid description of their new institution of planning; rather his presentation should be in keeping with the stature of French planning which as now constituted is sufficiently developed to withstand easily most any adverse criticism.