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  1. #1
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Run the French economy

    This'll cheer some of you up - a game where you can get to run the French economy.

    Cyber-budget

    Conservatives - See for yourselves if you can get those cheese-eaters to work 27 hours a day without many of them dying or becoming maimed.


    (You'll need to read French, BTW).


    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Seriously, I think this is an excellent idea to encourage citizens to understand the choices a government has to make. You even have the press getting on your back!
    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
    Albert Camus "Noces"

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    Second-hand chariot salesman Senior Member macsen rufus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    Damn, misread the thread title -- I wanted to RUIN the French economy....
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    I think the most characteristic lesson regarding the French way of running things is that you aren't allowed to use a 3-letter name when the game starts:P

    But it's a decent one, had the opportunity to learn a few financial terms in French that I hadn't bothered to look up before.
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    Darkside Medic Senior Member rory_20_uk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    One in English? That way the other 99% of the world can use it.

    An enemy that wishes to die for their country is the best sort to face - you both have the same aim in mind.
    Science flies you to the moon, religion flies you into buildings.
    "If you can't trust the local kleptocrat whom you installed by force and prop up with billions of annual dollars, who can you trust?" Lemur
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    RIP Tosa, my trolling end now Senior Member Devastatin Dave's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by macsen rufus
    Damn, misread the thread title -- I wanted to RUIN the French economy....
    Don't worry, the French can do that on their own.
    RIP Tosa

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    Senior Member Senior Member Brenus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    Not only have you had to read French but to UNDERSTAND French… It isn’t about the French Economy but about French Finances. Basically how the State spend your taxes…

    if you can get those cheese-eaters to work 27 hours a day without many of them dying or becoming maimed.” 27 hours per DAY… I want to see a tea-drinker or a hamburger-eater doing it…

    Don't worry, the French can do that on their own”: True, learning from USA and UK how to do it… Got a government which succeeded to ruin the country and increase unemployment in less time than Bush to ruin the USA… Well done to all Conservatives United…
    Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. Voltaire.

    "I've been in few famous last stands, lad, and they're butcher shops. That's what Blouse's leading you into, mark my words. What'll you lot do then? We've had a few scuffles, but that's not war. Think you'll be man enough to stand, when the metal meets the meat?"
    "You did, sarge", said Polly." You said you were in few last stands."
    "Yeah, lad. But I was holding the metal"
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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    You are aware that the US economy has been improving for several years, aren't you?

    Crazed Rabbit
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    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
    You are aware that the US economy has been improving for several years, aren't you?

    Crazed Rabbit
    Quiet you!!!


    Reinvent the British and you get a global finance center, edible food and better service. Reinvent the French and you may just get more Germans.
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    Ik hou van ferme grieten en dikke pinten
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    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



  9. #9
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by Brenus
    Not only have you had to read French but to UNDERSTAND French… It isn’t about the French Economy but about French Finances. Basically how the State spend your taxes…

    if you can get those cheese-eaters to work 27 hours a day without many of them dying or becoming maimed.” 27 hours per DAY… I want to see a tea-drinker or a hamburger-eater doing it…

    Don't worry, the French can do that on their own”: True, learning from USA and UK how to do it… Got a government which succeeded to ruin the country and increase unemployment in less time than Bush to ruin the USA… Well done to all Conservatives United…
    You're a bit too sensitive, Brenus, old fruit. I was making light of the conservative desire to change France into the Anglo-saxon model. 'Cheese-eaters' is a common term of disparagement which ignores the accomplishments of your country - and as my spoiler hoped to show, I am impressed that the French government tries to educate its citizens this way. It was a sideways poke at the conservative mind-set, not a dig at France.

    BTW, the line '27 hours a day..' comes from an excellent satirical book, '1066 and All That - All the History You can Remember.' Terrifically British, it warps history into those bits one remembers vaguely from school.

    For example (from memory): "The Industrial Revelation*. The industrial revelation was the discovery made by all the factory owners at once, that women and children could be worked 27 hours a day without many of them dying or becoming excessively maimed."

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    * Please no-one complain it's spelt wrong - it's a joke
    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
    Albert Camus "Noces"

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    Oni Member Samurai Waki's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    I wouldn't put much confidence into the slowly re-emerging US Economy. Come a few more years and things now will look rather enviable... A Horrifying Crash-is-a-Comin'

  11. #11
    Member Member thrashaholic's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by Brenus
    ...Got a government which succeeded to ruin the country and increase unemployment...
    Yet another DIY economist who doesn't know or understand what they're talking about.

    Employment isn't the be all and end all of an economy, in fact one shouldn't try to tamper too much in the labour market at all because any attempt to lower unemployent is inflationary (Phillips Curve - look it up) and in the long run employment will fall back to the natural rate, but the inflation will remain (rightward shift of the Phillips Curve). Consequently, the only way to remedy this problem is to expand the capacity of the economy, shifting the Phillips Curve back left so that the natural rate of unemployment is attained without inflationary pressure. This expansion in economic capacity can be attained in a number of ways, but one is through the liberalisation of markets, which is what Maggie did (or her economic advisors encouraged her to do) and that is why Continental Europe are in the doldrums economically, whilst Britain continues to be successful (New Labour are riding a nice Tory wave).

    Too much state control or interference ruins the pluralism that makes market sytems effective. Mind you, untempered market systems can often manage to lose pluralism themselves. That's why government intervention can only really be justified in monopoly prevention (and correction of externalities if you're that way inclined).

  12. #12
    For England and St.George Senior Member ShadesWolf's Avatar
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    Default Re: Run the French economy

    But its in French
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  13. #13
    TexMec Senior Member Louis VI the Fat's Avatar
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    Default Re : Run the French economy

    Nice find, Banquo.

    Of course, as a kind gesture to our Anglosaxon friends, the French government translates a lot of its press-releases in English.
    It gives a lot of information about the game, but unfortunately the game itself is only in French.

    I think this game is a good initiative by Jean-François Copé, the minister responsible for the budget. He faces a daunting task. On the one hand, the state deficit has not been below the three percent line since 2001. To the horror of budget-conscious citizens, despite clear European agreements, and at the expense of France's foreign prestige and trustworthiness.
    On the other hand, the tax-burden already stands at an internationally very high 44%, thanks to a bloated public sector, and can't possibly be raised any higher.

    His dilemma is:
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Increasing the tax-burden is political suicide. The voters won't have it.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Decreasing spending is political suicide. The voters won't have it either.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    So the spoiled brats could do with a little budgetary education. I remember from a recent survey that some 75% of voters didn't even know the difference between national debt and national deficit. So this game will hopefully help lessen their educational deficit somewhat.

    As for the game itself, it is a bit elementary. Though I got more things wrong than I care to admit.
    I love the press comments, complete with the Canard. And the reaction from the opposition if you do manage to get most correct: 'Louis has a lot of right answers. Unfortunately, he asks the wrong questions'.
    Anything unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
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  14. #14
    TexMec Senior Member Louis VI the Fat's Avatar
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    Default Re : Run the French economy

    *Cheese-eater Louis stops nibbling his Ossau-Iraty Brebis from Fromagerie Agour in Helette(1) for long enough to post a reply *

    Come on, Brenus. Banquo speaks French fluently. Plus he's a self-declared Francophile, not at all out to have a bash at France.
    If you MUST take issue with 'cheese-eater', just give them rosbifs a good poke back, eh - they can take it. They love a good brawl but are a bit impatient with overly sensitive behaviour.

    And in the event that you should fail to come up with a clever response, put your nose up in the air, raise your eyebrows a bit, sigh as if you're a bit bored, and treat them to some arrogant, pedantic expose about this or that. Let's say, for example, a snobbish expose about how Anglosaxon work ethics are incompatible with enjoying Pyrenees cheeses.

    It never fails to irritate them.





    (1) Rightfully voted the best cheese in the world.

    But no, you won't find it in your local supermarket. It is produced only on a single family farm in the Pyrenees, in small quantities.

    And no, you don't have time to go there. Spending two days to go check out divine cheeses is the sole privilege of those with six weeks paid holiday.

    And even if you could go there, it wouldn't make a difference. Those with more than a 35-hour working week are condemned to a life of tv-dinners. They do not have the opportunity to develop the exquisite taste necessary for appreciating the finer things in life, like spending countless afternoons and evenings celebrating wine, cheese and good company.
    Anything unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
    Texan by birth, woodpecker by the grace of God
    I would be the voice of your conscience if you had one - Brenus
    Bt why woulf we uy lsn'y Staraft - Fragony
    Not everything
    blue and underlined is a link


  15. #15

    Default Re: Re : Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
    Come on, Brenus. Banquo speaks French fluently. Plus he's a self-declared Francophile, not at all out to have a bash at France.
    If you MUST take issue with 'cheese-eater', just give them rosbifs a good poke back, eh - they can take it. They love a good brawl but are a bit impatient with overly sensitive behaviour.
    Whoa, whoa. People actually use the term 'rosbif'?

  16. #16
    American since 2012 Senior Member AntiochusIII's Avatar
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    Default Re: Re : Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by GoreBag
    Whoa, whoa. People actually use the term 'rosbif'?
    What does that mean? I'm curious.

  17. #17
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Re: Re : Run the French economy

    Quote Originally Posted by AntiochusIII
    What does that mean? I'm curious.
    Rosbif is a Gallic-accented play on 'roast beef'. The French quite rightly consider that the Brits only ever eat roast beef (with the abomination known as gravy) and thus use rosbif as a not-so-subtle dig at the culinary and cultural achievements of their dearly beloved neighbours.

    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
    Albert Camus "Noces"

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