16 Mar
"Surprising." "Moved". "Not yet" … The reactions of economists and analysts to interview with the Financial Times by Christine Lagarde is unanimous. The Minister of Economy French expressed doubts about the durability of a German model which penalizes it believes other European countries.
While Germany has deliberately chosen to stake everything on offer to boost its exports at the expense of domestic demand and of exports and other European countries, "it's still hard to criticize a countries, which introduced considerable reforms over the past ten years and whose discipline enables him to get away well, "said Marc Touati, economist at Global Equities.
France has no lesson to give Germany, and especially could receive, say analysts."It's fun for a country that lacks the courage to take the steps it must take to address a friend and partner, accusing him of being just too good student," quipped Marc Fiorentino, Euroland Finance.
"The remarks by Christine Lagarde is a form of displaced unmanageable," according to Marc Touati, that reservation, however, about the conditions of the interview and the return of his remarks.
Christine Lagarde Where does she come?
"I'm not sure that the German model based on the downward pressure on labor costs is sustainable over the long term," said Christine Lagarde, criticizing the trade surplus in Germany. She called Berlin to develop its domestic demand for the good of all Europe.
For Olivier Bizimina economist at Credit Agricole, these remarks are not really the place to be."There is a structural difference between Germany and France: the German household consumes less than the French household," says he. The Germans, when they have more money, save more and invest more. The French consume.
Moreover, the criticism of the Minister does not seem justified in the sense that "it's not as if there had been a competitive devaluation," he said payday loans no teletrack . Germany as France, have in effect the same currency: the euro.
A very contrasting Europe
Christine Lagarde continues to advocate solidarity and convergence between European countries, when Germany chose to focus on its competitiveness and displays its austerity facing European countries in difficulty.In other words, Marc Fiorentino, France asked the European harmony, but that will take place in Germany drawing down "to less jealous, rather than setting goals to the height its neighbor. A vision he considers "pitiful."
The meeting on Monday afternoon, the finance ministers of the euro area in Brussels on aid to Greece, following the joint conference between Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy in London promises to be stormy. The Franco-German tensions would be increasingly felt, according to some analysts, and contrast with the cordial political relations displayed by Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel with the media.
SOS eurozone
In a crisis, while Europe is expected to weld, "such criticism" has no meaning and could "put in pole position the idea of an ever more diverse," says Marc Touati .It is time the European harmony, reflection on a European "with clear rules for all countries with a federal …ยป, continues bubget economist. Otherwise, "in 2020, the euro area has disappeared.
Marc Fiorentino, in an editorial on BFM radio this morning, has sanctioned the remarks of Minister of Economy of the verdict without appeal: "It is time that we have a cabinet reshuffle. It speaks of Christine Lagarde Foreign Affairs. This is good news, "he quipped.
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