Les perceptions sur les causes du chômage et sur ses solutions : le cas de la France

This article deals with the subjective perceptions of the causes and consequences of unemployment in France. The analysis is realized using a survey of the research department of labour Ministry based on a representative sample of the French population. We make the hypothesis that a better knowing of such mechanisms by the potential beneficiaries of the employment policies can improve its targeting. The results show that for the interviewed the main causes of unemployment are due to industrial relocations, low growth and high level of wages employers contributions. Diminishing contributions and boosting consumption are then considered as the better ways to improve employment level. Otherwise the mechanisms favouring the return to work of unemployed are well known but also seem to be overestimated. It might come from the fact that the mechanisms of incentives tend to become a social norm in the public debate about unemployment. Lastly we note that if the absence of diploma reduces the probability for an individual to say that she or he knows correctly the instruments of employment policies, having a high diploma level do not reveal a better effective knowledge of all instruments. JEL Classification: J08, J20, E24, I38, D69.