L’Etat, un agent économique contestable, mais irremplaçable

With the bad experience of the so-called socialist countries and the rise of economic globalization that has weakened the national opportunity for Keynesian policies, the state is presented as an economic agent in crisis, whose management is too often ineffective. The action of private companies is rather valued, except in case of bankruptcy or dismissals. In fact, firms cannot do without the state, if only to define rules and laws necessary for the functioning of the market. The state is legitimate to assert the compulsory levies necessary for the respect of the democratic values and the expenses relating to the national solidarity in the matter of education, health, environment or security. It must regulate the market, control trusts, take into account externalities, finance public goods and services, define income transfers, reduce uncertainty and sometimes support companies or regions in economic difficulty. Yet citizens must also control this role, in order to reduce the threats of privatized power, corruption, technocratic inefficiency and lavish or illegitimate spending.