IMF Staff Country Reports

France: Selected Background Issues

Publication Date:

January 2, 1996

Summary:

This paper analyzes a broad range of price and nonprice indicators to assess developments in the international competitiveness of the French economy during the 1980s and early 1990s. The paper provides a brief review of conceptual issues concerning the competitiveness indicators used in this study. Developments in conventional price- and cost-based indicators, both at the aggregate and bilateral levels, are reported. The paper discusses additional price- and quantity-based measures of competitiveness, and also examines the labor market dynamics and economic policy of France.

Series:

Country Report No. 1995/141

Subject:

Capacity utilization Employment Labor Labor markets Output gap Production

Notes:

This report on selected background issues in France was prepared by a staff team of the International Monetary Fund as background documentation for the periodic consultation with this member country. As such, the views expressed in this document are those of the staff team and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of France, or the Executive Board of the IMF.