Can we improve competitiveness at any cost?

Dialogues économiques

What is the common feature between global imbalances, the Crédit d’Impôt pour la Compétitivité et l’Emploi (CICE), and Donald Trump's tweets against China? Competitiveness! This concept has been at the heart of political discourse since the European debt crisis in 2010, leading to much scrutiny of its performance and praise of its growth. So, when it comes to reforms aimed at increasing competitiveness, economists Lise Patureau and Céline Poilly point out the importance of considering the impact of corporate markup.

December 09th 2020

Previously issued

Dialogues économiques

When economic precarity compounds the harms of homophobia

In many low- and middle-income countries, being LGBTQIA+ entails a double burden: discrimination compounded by economic precarity. Economists Bruno Ventelou and Erik Lamontagne reveal how this combination can undermine mental health, by cross-referencing global data on wellbeing, economic conditions, and the homophobic climate.

January 09th 2026

Press

In Spain, economic policy has been conducive and has benefited from favourable circumstances

Only in French - An op-ed by Cecilia García Peñalosa (CNRS, EHESS, AMSE) and Alain Trannoy (EHESS, AMSE) published in the newspaper Le Monde.

December 22nd 2025

Dialogues économiques

The True Price of CO₂

In 2024, a grim record was set: it was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. The signs of climate upheaval are now visible to all, as global warming manifests itself in a rapid rise in extreme weather events. In theory, the solution is straightforward: we must stop burning fossil fuels. In practice, phasing out energy sources so firmly entrenched in contemporary societies is an immense challenge. To reduce CO₂ emissions, economists — trained in cost–benefit analysis — can help policymakers design strategies that are both effective and socially acceptable.

December 10th 2025