The idea may make some noise. Two economists advocate, in an article published by the Journal of the INSEE "Economics and Statistics", which care expenses are reimbursed according to the income of policyholder allocation1. A suggestion that reminds one of the proposals of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 to reform Social Security. Defended by Bertrand Fragonard, President of the High Council of the family, this device did not finally emerged.

Six years later, so two researchers revive the subject. "Until then, each contributor within its means and receiving according to their needs, says Gregory Lagasnerie, co-author of the article. The goal is not to reduce the deficit of Social Security, but to reintroduce the principle of solidarity in the reimbursement system of care that previous governments have removed. " In short, it would apply to the Health Insurance the same philosophy of the upcoming reform of the government on familiales2 allowances, namely reducing those paid to the richest households. "The amounts to be borne 10% of the poorest French 8% of revenue and 0.6% of those 10% of the French richest," says the researcher.

To reduce these inequalities and economists suggest to reform the co-payment, ie the remaining load of patients, and apply according to the income of the insured and not independently of their resources, as now share. This proposal does not apply to hospital care, much more expensive. It takes into account the care city, namely consultations among physicians, who represent 53% of health spending French in 2011, EUR 96 billion.

The two economists suggest to set an annual ceiling as it already exists in Sweden, Switzerland or the Netherlands. More income of the insured, the higher this amount is large and vice versa. The study takes the example of a patient whose care spending is 1200 euros per year and would face a co-payment of 30%. "He would pay 360 euros per year, say two researchers. With a ceiling of 300 euros, health insurance would cover 60 euros. " The proposed system, that is more just, more could have the advantage of being less dependent on public funding …

Cyprus, on the verge of ruin, and European donors affect the moment of truth. The outcome of the standoff that lasted a week, whatever it is, promises unprecedented for the island as the euro. If successful, Cyprus keep the single currency, but its depositors richest see their bank account laminated. If there is failure in the end, the island could plunge into bankruptcy and the club will leave monetary sinking. Abandonment unpublished.

The drama, anticipated for months, has tied up with an appointment urgently seventeen finance ministers in Brussels on Sunday evening. Sign of the voltage Ambient meeting should begin with five hours late. It is the ECB, tired of waiting, sets the tempo for lack of agreement on a bailout plan Monday it will cut the cash that keep Cypriot banks afloat since the summer. Clearly, after ten days of closing, banks could reopen, but with empty crates.

In the last hours, the leaders took Nicosia after a long denial of the danger. "The goal is to save the Cypriot economy and avoid a cessation of payments to uncontrollable effects," admitted the conservative president, Nicos Anastasiades, rushed to Brussels. Nicosia is ready to liquidate the second bank, Laiki, the worse off. But he still resisted the project, promoted by the IMF, a painful downsizing of Bank of Cyprus, the mainstay of the island economy.

Ultimate scenario

The fate of this institution remained in the night, the issue of a camera parallel between Nicos Anastasiades, President Herman Van Rompuy, Christine Lagarde, Mario Draghi, José Manuel Barroso and the head of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem. "At this stage it or break it," noted a source informed. Sign of nervousness, Cypriot President would have resigned in the balance, according to the press island. "I will make a proposal, and you do not agree. I'll give you another one and it's the same thing. What you want me to do? "He said.

By midnight Monday, Tuesday or later in the morning, the 17 finance ministers of the euro – including Cypriot Michalis Sarris – will accept or reject the final funding scenario and rescue. The idea of ​​a massive tax-up to 25% – or a discount equivalent of 70 billion euros deposited in Cyprus is already imposed on both camps.

Given the peculiarity of the island is almost the only realistic means available to finance its share Nicosia immediate bailout (5.8 billion). The Eurogroup, the financial equation is intangible. The IMF, for its part, prohibits headlong Cyprus refusing to borrow more.

Remains to impose this bitter pill just installed a government, and a parliament that has rejected outright the first draft of the plan. "There is a casino economy to the brink of bankruptcy (…) If nothing is done, and it is you, it is I who will pay the bill," agreed Pierre Moscovici, Minister French Finance. Cypriots themselves, see this tax the final blow to their financial industry.

Beyond uncertainty about the fate of the island itself, the Cyprus crisis has dealt a severe blow to the credibility of the euro area and its crisis management. And for the first time soon, the ECB may have to put his threat into execution and starve a recalcitrant country.

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A symbol! Late Wednesday morning, FO, CFE-CGC after, announced that it will sign the agreement on the competitiveness of the Renault group, thus validating the reorganization of the manufacturer in France. At the same time, Michel Sapin, Labour Minister, Council of Ministers presented the implementation of the Agreement of 11 January, which combines improved competitiveness and job security. There are two advanced social landmark.

The national agreement on employment, commented extensively since mid-January, is considered a modernization of labor law and social relations, it is not amended by Parliament. That Renault is exemplary in many respects. Although this is not the first of its kind, it prefigures the scale of a large industrial group, agreements should be signed in business when the law on flexibility and security will be finally adopted. It is a give and take. To secure the future of the French sites, the manufacturer is committed to increase production and not to close the factory. In return, employees have agreed to an increase of their working time and freeze their pay payday advance.

This agreement demonstrates a constructive social dialogue is possible in a society in trouble. Case in full-PSA Aulnay, could fear very high voltages. At no time negotiations have been broken. In passing, it should be noted the wisdom of the government and particularly that of Arnaud Montebourg. Minister of Relief productive supported these negotiations and was careful to put oil on the fire, even a polemic on the remuneration of Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault, erupted in full discussions.

Secondly and most importantly, this agreement shows that it is possible to drastically reduce the cost of labor to allow industrial sites become competitive, to the point to consider increasing production in France. For cars, it might be a turning point. Between 2001 and 2011, domestic production fell from 3.63 million to 2.24 million vehicles, almost three times less vehicles built in Germany.

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SNCF has managed to maintain its course in 2012 despite the economic difficulties which mainly affected the performance of two of its five branches: SNCF Geodis, dedicated to transporting goods and SNCF Voyages, which includes the activity TGV. Overall, the Group's turnover increased by 3% compared to last year, to 33.8 billion euros. Better, its net profit tripled to 383 million euros.

Three activities are driving growth in the group: the SNCF Infra – which makes on behalf of Réseau Ferré de France, the renovation of the network – with an increase of 6.4% of its turnover; branch trips that despite slower growth, displays a turnover up 2.5% compared to last year, to 7.5 billion euros – for the record, the branch had increased 5.9 Travel % in 2011 and 5.4% in 2010, and finally the branch Proximity – which includes urban public transport and regional France and abroad – saw its sales rise by 3.8% to 12.8 billion euros.

SNCF boosts its offer low prices

The economic downturn has particularly affected the freight. "This is the first activity that suffers the economic crisis," said a spokesman for the group, however, which puts the poor performance of SNCF Geodis. "Compared to our competitors, we are doing rather better." Pole Freight Rail Transportation (TFM), including Fret SNCF sees its sales fall by 7% compared to last year. At constant scope, the turnover of SNCF Geodis fell by only 1.6% but above its operating margin rose from 237 million to 136 million in 2012.

Travelers also less likely to rise in the TGV. Travel branch grew only 1.4% of its activity during the second half against 3.6% in the first six months of the year. This observation prompted the station to boost its offer low prices and launch on April 1st Ouigo, the TGV low cost. Its leaders unveil Tuesday in Marne-La-Vallée the "livery" of the new TGV.

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"Significant risks persist and global growth is still too low with persistent unemployment at unacceptably high in many countries." This is the warning that the finance ministers and central bank governors of the twenty richest countries in the world have made their statement after their meeting chaired by Russia, Saturday in Moscow.

Admittedly, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has just raised its growth forecast for the world in 2013 from 3.25% to 3.5%, said the Russian Finance Minister Anton Silouanov. "But if we fail to stay on this positive note, there is a danger of return to recession," he warned. Echoing the minister Pierre Moscovici welcomed "the projector is no longer pointed at the euro area" and "ability to survive" but joined the collective diagnosis of "low growth" and "low employment" as are the main risks to the global economy. In the first paragraph of the release, the two countries explicitly mentioned for the "uncertainties fiscal situation" are the United States and Japan.

Balanced budget target in 2017 "intact"

In this context, the G20 countries have somewhat eased off on the objectives of reducing budget deficits and public debts. "Taking into account the deterioration of the economy should allow us not to add to the austerity of the recession," said Pierre Moscovici. His Russian colleague recognized in 2010 when the G20 pledged to Toronto to halve deficits by 2013 "our expectations were quite optimistic." "Commitments Toronto" are not explicitly mentioned in the Moscow Declaration. The advanced G20 countries will present to the Summit of Heads of State, held in September in St. Petersburg, "the medium-term budgetary strategies credible" "taking into account the short-term economic conditions," the statement said. In France, it is a blank check a posteriori for not meeting its commitment to a deficit of 3% of GDP this year? The conclusions of the G20, said Pierre Moscovici, demonstrate "that we seek a balance between the serious budget that we do not give up" and the need "to maintain growth in the short term." The objective of a balanced budget in 2017, recently reaffirmed by Jean-Marc Ayrault "absolutely intact," stressed the head of Bercy.

In the search for a global rebalancing, the G20 countries called "surplus" (like China or Germany) to "boost their growth." Are explicitly covered "the major producers of raw materials," such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, also a member of the G20.

It is also the name of the preservation of growth that G20 countries have committed themselves not to use "competitive devaluation." Taking over the statement issued Tuesday by the G7 on the "currency war", the G20 commits to move "more rapidly to a rate of exchange determined by the markets." Ensuring that its monetary policy, causing concern about competitive devaluations in recent weeks, Japan "is in line with our vision of political change," said the Russian Minister commented diplomatically.

Pierre Moscovici and has concluded, "the G20 is not an instance spectacular" but the right place with the "right people" to debate between "old and new economic powers" to build a "more controlled globalization".

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This is unfortunately not a surprise, given the recorded zero growth in 2012: employment figures are still in the red. For the third consecutive quarter, there were more jobs lost than jobs created in France between October and December. During these three months, 28,100 jobs were lost in the non-agricultural market. Apart from the first quarter of 2012, the French economy has destroyed jobs throughout 2012, bringing the number of jobs lost 66,800 jobs over the year (-0.4% compared to 2011). This is the worst year since 2009, when nearly 263,000 jobs had disappeared – in 2010 and 2011, the creations had overcome destruction.

• An extension of nine disappeared in the interim

No sector is spared. The interim is again the most affected sector. Approximately 13,800 jobs were lost in this sector in the last quarter, pushing up to 65,600 the number of jobs lost in a year, or 11.5% of the workforce, says the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies ( INSEE).

• The industry still affected

Industrial employment continues its long retreat. Some 13,100 jobs were destroyed at the end of the year 5500 against the previous quarter. Throughout 2012, the industry shows a loss of 31,700 jobs (-1%).  

• A bad year for the tertiary

Less affected than in the third quarter, employment in the service sector, however, continues to fall: 10,600 jobs have disappeared at the end of the year, bringing the number of jobs lost over the year to 25,700, while 69,000 were created the previous year.

The labor force at the same time continuing to rise, France recorded 258,000 unemployed in 2012, the second lowest increase since at least 1996. In other words, the government will struggle to reverse the curve of unemployment by the end of 2013, despite the agreement on employment.

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Deloitte announced Tuesday the results of its study "Technology Predictions 2013 media and communications."

Smartphones are not smart

In France, 23% of smartphone owners have never connected to the Internet. They use to call that. France is the world average, Germany or Canada, this proportion reaches 28%. Japan is an exception, with 92% of smartphone owners who actually use as a smartphone. Growth of the smartphone market therefore hides another reality, one uses, which they have not yet fully evolved.

4G is not expected by consumers

"This one is my favorite answer," joked Duncan Stewart, an analyst at Deloitte, about an answer to the question "when you replace your phone, go to choose a 4G device?". 11% of the French do not know just what 4G. And more than half have no opinion on the subject. 4G arrives in nineteenth position criteria, including behind the subscription price (40%), brand (36%), reliability (64%) … In addition to "networks will be very quickly saturated, "as emphasized Deloitte, taking the example of the United States where there is already a shortage of bandwidth 4G. The tendency will be to free telephone calls and more restrictive pricing data transmissions via 3G or 4G.

The remote voice and gestures will not replace the button

Vocal and gestural remotes are extremely popular with manufacturers that have developed as a solution for the connected TV. What could be easier to navigate on the Internet? False, according to Duncan Stewart. With a standard remote control, the error rate for orders placed 10,000 is 2 (including the cessation of batteries). With the voice, the rate rises to 1000 and 1200 with gesture commands. In other words, it brings more disadvantages than more. It will therefore be necessary that manufacturers improve their proposal before consumers decide to adopt either their TV or their PC, tablet

. Television: Ultra HD is not a panacea

CES (Electronics Show in Las Vegas), Ultra HD (4K or four times the resolution of HD) caused a sensation. LG, Samsung and Sony have introduced screens 84 inches (2 meters diagonally) with superb image quality. In two sentences, Duncan Stewart kills the dream. "Who has a living room where a TV from 2 meters? Besides two meters distance, the eye is no longer the difference between a screen and it paid 24,000 euros paid 1000 euros. " Add to this that for the moment, the content does not follow.

The tablet will not kill the PC

This time it is the journalists who were targeted by Duncan Stewart. "They have so written that the tablet would kill the PC, mocked he. This is false. In terms of usage, it is false. " So yes, the PC market has suffered from the arrival of the tablets, but is not finished either. The young remain faithful to their (large) PC monitor for gaming or watching movies. This is especially the laptop has suffered from the emergence of tablets, even if they are penalized by absance keyboard.

The smartphone will kill Phablet

This is the final paradox of Duncan Stewart. Deloitte predicts strong growth in the smartphone market with a 5-inch screen and more, halfway between the tablet and smartphone and renamed Phablet. "The main argument against this type of phone is that it looks ridiculous when used to call, because of its size precisely. However, owners of such devices do not use it to make calls, but to send or read emails, text messages, take pictures … ". They do not look ridiculous (QED) and these devices are very useful. They have much future.

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After Greece, Portugal and Cyprus, it is now the turn of Croatia to be downgraded to the rank investment grade by Moody's speculative. In other words, the rating agency believes that the country's debt is a risky investment.

Moody's justifies this decision by "the lack of economic recovery in Croatia." The rating agency does not expect "significant improvement while growth is structurally constrained." "After four years of weak growth or recession, the economy of Croatia still lacks new sources of growth," explains Moody's. "Its business model, which has always rested heavily on domestic consumption and construction (…), is down while blockages persist for investment" and exports, it adds. The Croatian economy has not grown since 2009 and was again contracted by about 1.1% in 2012 but the government expects growth of 1.8% in 2013 against a forecast of 0.8% for the World Bank.

The agency also deplores "the lack of fiscal consolidation" in a "difficult economic environment" and "vulnerability" of the country to external shocks. The only positive point perspective Moody's is now stable when it was negative before.

This blow to the country to become the 28th member country of the European Union on July 1 could accelerate the onset of European aid. Earlier this month, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso had called Bern and Brussels to engage "as soon as possible" discussions about a Swiss financial contribution to Croatia. Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union but belongs to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) provides financial assistance to countries Central and Eastern Europe that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 .

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There is not the staff of EDF which protests against the proposed closure of the nuclear Fessenheim (Haut-Rhin). CGT also takes a stand: the union said Thursday it would file an appeal on February 8 before the Council of State against the appointment of an inter-ministerial delegate stop site. Federation CGT-mines says she has nothing against him, Francis Rol-Tanguy, but recalls that the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has authorized the extension of Fessenheim for ten years. The eyes of the CGT, the decision to discontinue the activity Fessenheim is a decision "politics and illegitimate."

As part of the campaign, Francois Hollande has pledged to close the oldest French Central before the end of the quinquennium. At the high environmental conference organized by the Government last September, the new president said the deadline at the end of 2016 personal loans for bad credit. For EDF, this will mean figuring out how to replace the production of Fessenheim: the group will develop a capacity of approximately 2,000 megawatts.

The offensive of the CGT was not orchestrated by chance. It comes on the same day the national debate on energy transition into the heart of the matter. Thursday, a third meeting between the different actors (government, unions, businesses, NGOs …) was held in Paris. Debate, one of the highlights for the general public, will be a "citizen day" May 25 declined in all regions, will focus on ways to achieve the course set by François Hollande, intangible, reduce by 75% to 50% share of the atom in the French electricity production.  

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SeaFrance made new tub. In liquidation, the Channel ferry company has refloating in August as scop. But because of a trifle legal cooperative, called My Link Ferry, waiting in vain for 9.27 million euros and fears for its survival.

The backup plan of employment (PSE) built a year ago by the liquidator provided that the SNCF, former parent company of SeaFrance, the scop pay 25,000 euros per employee shareholder. My Link Ferries took over the link between Dover and Calais, and 371 are ex-SeaFrance entered the capital of the cooperative. But 9.27 million were not paid.

SNCF is not involved. The money is in the coffers of the public company, which paid € 32 million as part of the PES. Accused by some to block the file, the liquidator, who has this sum describes a situation legally complex. "The set of conditions that must be met for the payment of 25,000 euros are only since January 3 last, says Stéphane Gorrias the liquidator no fax payday loans. In addition, we have a disagreement on the interpretation of a clause PSE. "

PES provided in effect a payment amount if the scop conducting "a similar operation of ships" at the end of an assignment. But boats do not belong to the scop, but Eurotunnel.

So, Stéphane Gorrias will not take the risk of committing an offense. For My Link Ferry affects 9 million provided he imagine two solutions: either the scop brought an action against him, a mutual agreement is reached with Eurotunnel, SNCF and the scop by 23 January.

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