U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and professor at Columbia University, spoke today at the conference "New World, New Capitalism", organized in Paris by the Minister Industry Eric Besson, in the presence of François Fillon and Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou. Father of the liberal shock therapy in Russia of Yeltsin, Sachs, who has advised many governments, has evolved over the years in cross-interventionist in the fight against poverty.
LE FIGARO. – The European Union will she have to save other Member States this year?
Jeffrey Sachs. – I am more optimistic than most of my fellow economists about Europe. I think the euro will resist and that countries have chosen the difficult path of austerity will hold good.The bailout of Greece and Ireland's long overdue and has been implemented grudgingly, which was expensive in Europe. I agree with these plans, with one caveat: in the case of Ireland, where the weight of private debt is large, the government guarantees to banks have been too generous to me.
The French economic model he was protective against the crisis?
As an American, I am tempted to say, especially to the French right long seduced by liberalism in the U.S.: do not go to the American model! The United States undergoing a structural crisis much deeper than Germany or France. United States, unemployment reached 10%, income inequalities have never been so blatant, and the budget deficit weighs 10% of GDP. The financial system and labor market deregulation are the cause of this crisis.The heart of Europe – except Italy, which has its own political problems – France, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia are much more balanced, more resistant, more competitive in the long run than the States USA.
How the West can they stay competitive?
Global competition is intense. You can increase competitiveness by lowering wages of unskilled workers or, conversely, promote education. The crisis has led to a decline in consumption. Rulers had the choice between stimulating the consumption or boost investment. The second option was the best, not one chosen by the United States, who preferred short-term policies. The recovery requires investment in major infrastructure, the green economy and human capital. Stimulate consumption is a very naive approach.The scrapping, for example, in vogue in many countries, is an easy solution, but absurd.
Are you in favor of reforming the international monetary system?
The dollar has already begun its decline. An international monetary system based on multiple currencies is needed. We must first restore the credibility of the euro. Second difficulty: Asia. The yuan prevail there as the Asian currency or will he monetary cooperation with the Japanese yen and Korean won? The yuan is not even a true international currency, but China probably has a plan to transform the next ten years or even faster.If Europe speaks with one voice (there was dithering in Germany), while Asia also agrees, then the monetary system will be based on three pillars, the euro, Asian currencies and the dollar .
In this context of weak growth and debt in the West, China Will it extend its control over Europe?
No need to be a genius to see that China is trying to recast the global economy. It saves half of its GDP! This accumulation of wealth is spectacular. One part feeds the fastest urbanization in history, which involves the construction of infrastructure, roads, power plants on a scale without precedent. China has also become the largest investor in Africa. She also played an important stabilizing role for the euro. Premier Wen Jiabao said China would continue to purchase debt securities Greek, Portuguese or Spanish.On the other hand, China is the source of rising world prices of energy and power. What she did not properly managed, are its natural resources. She is going through a profound environmental crisis. But this is twenty years I reiterate that China's growth is strong and she changes the world.