Nobel Prize in Economics 2024, Daron Acemoglu praised Emmanuel Macron’s reforms recently

ECONOMY – A satisfaction. Winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Economics alongside Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson, Turkish-American economist Daron Acemoglu recently made headlines by taking a relatively positive look at the economic reforms carried out by Emmanuel Macron since 2017. .

This Monday, in Stockholm, he was rewarded with his colleagues for their work on “ understanding differences in prosperity between nations “. Before receiving the prestigious award this Monday, October 14, the professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) looked at the case of France in an interview given to L’Express last July.

Specialist in the role of institutions in the economic and political development of countries, he believes that the economic reforms implemented since the arrival of Emmanuel Macron to power ” have generally borne fruit ».

Pension reform? “Not recognized at its true value”

Daron Acemoglu points in particular to the youth unemployment rate which “ hadn’t been this low ” Since “ about twenty years old “, although it is ” still high compared to the European average “. The economist also notes “more job creation” and “ signs of economic recovery » visible. After the financial crisis of 2008 and despite the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the French economy is, in his eyes, ” much better today than ten years ago ».

If he recognizes that the French president was unable to resolve “ some fundamental problems » such as low productivity growth and the lack of quality job creation, the economist takes a harsh look at the French. For this, the professor cites the example of pension reform, which Emmanuel Macron “ was right to do “, although it is not ” recognized at its fair value by the French.

Daron Acemoglu recognizes, however, that this reform was “ imposed in a disorderly manner ».

He adds that the personality of the tenant of the Élysée and “ the way in which the French political situation has been shaped in recent years, particularly at the time of the yellow vests » were not of much help. He also recognizes that during this “ turbulent period “, the leadership style of the French president “ didn’t really work ».

Finding the right balance for immigration

Regarding France’s difficulties, he notes that the rise of the far right plays an important role in the depreciation of executive reforms. The RN, in particular, raises themes like “ protecting workers and protecting people from globalists “, at the moment of a “sstagnation of wages and perhaps also immigration that populations consider uncontrollable ».

« Anti-democratic politicians now speak the language of democracy » after years of “ highly technocratic policies “. Consequence? “ The population ends up turning its back on democracy and more particularly on the most central candidates “, he says.

Among the solutions he puts forward to allow France to move forward, he cites the need to increase wages ” decent » et « shared across different demographics and skill groups “. Or a thoughtful use of artificial intelligence in work, in the service of worker decision-making rather than a form of work automation. Daron Acemoglu also welcomes the work of France and the EU to regulate the use of artificial intelligence.

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