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The reproduction is better than output. In this season of activity budgets in 2009, from automobiles to zoos, most areas in the commune down. The numbers of births do not appear as brightest. INSEE has identified 821 000 last year, only 7 400 fewer than in 2008. This decline is described as "negligible" by demographers, not even "the line thickness. Especially that 2008 was a leap year, which was added mechanically 2 000 births, INSEE said.

The economic crisis it have no impact on family plans? "For the moment we receive no effect, confirming France Prioux, a researcher at the INED (National Institute of Demographic Studies). This is not the case in South Korea, which announced a fall of 4.4% of births in 2009."More and more people were delayed or canceled their wedding plans during the recession," he told AFP Kim Dong-hoy, head of population studies. The Land of the Morning Calm, with Singapore and Taiwan, who is experiencing the lowest fertility rates in the world (1.15 children per woman of childbearing age).

In the U.S., it is allowed since last summer that the crisis will lead, as is customary, by a decline in births. Only data for 2008 are known, and they show a decline of almost 2% over 2007 (4 247 000, a record 50 years), according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Across the Atlantic, economic cycles and demographic change strictly in parallel, as evidenced by the four previous recessions (1974, 1981, 1991 and 2001).

This determinism is understandable in societies where birth control is more the rule than the exception.The Ireland still offers a cons-almost perfect example. The country traditionally more pronatalist in Europe – 16.9 newborns per thousand inhabitants per year, against 13 in France and 8.3 in Germany – has suffered the most severe recession in the euro area. Despite a fall of 7.5% of GDP last year's births increased 1%, according to estimates by the Directorate of Health. Explanation of the Central Statistics Office: the baby-boom years of 1980, which followed the entry deDublin in the European Union, have become parents.

The problems of income and unemployment are not always the enemy of babies. Some even see an incentive. Gary Becker, Nobel Laureate 1992 and theoretician of the family economy, showed a woman who loses her job will be available to raise a child.And the "opportunity cost", as economists say – the income to which he must renounce – will be less than if she had voluntarily quit her job. Also in times of crisis, family values are rising and fertility recovered.

Demographers are nevertheless cautious about the resilience of the French birth rate. As the U.S. federal government last year amounted to 291 $ 570 "price" to raise a child to adulthood, our system of family assistance and public benefits makes probably the "investment" less risky for couples. History shows that despite all our demographic has always responded to crises. "The Great Depression of the 1930s had rarefied births, as the oil shock of 1973.The fertility rate (per woman) fell to its lowest level in post-war (1.66) during the economic recession of 1993, "says Ariane Pailhé in the social portrait of France (2009 edition ). Why would it do differently this time?

Let's bracket the explanation, very controversial, which gives dynamism to the French foreign families. False, according to Insee, "The share of children born to foreign parents, which amounted to 6.9% in 2008 has changed little from 1998 (6.6%). The reality is more mundane, as explained Gilles Pison, demographer at INED: "Since the baby boom of the postwar period, there is a fairly high stability of the predisposition of couples to have kids. What has changed is they have more later.Initially, it helped reduce the annual number of births, then do go through a process of catching up. "Thus the fertility rate is 1.66 children pressed in 1993 to nearly 2 today.

Economic Crisis Will it change the "desire for children? Another focal point on youth unemployment. "It could he delay the time when we" settled "and you have children? It is unfortunate that the records of Vital Statistics do not indicate the rank of new-born of each family. For on the number of first births that the crisis could have the greatest consequences, "warns France Prioux. It is unlikely that France soon lose its leadership position population of the European Union.It hosts over 800 000 babies a year when Germany's powerful product in less than 700 000, despite reproductive capacity but much more numerous untapped.

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"Demography: French dynamism is confirmed

"DOCUMENT – The demographic results 2009 (insee.fr)

It is the global rush on atomic reactors. Nicolas Sarkozy opened Monday morning an international conference on access to civilian nuclear technology that would bring together a thousand participants including some forty foreign ministers and the new Director General of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Japan Yukiya Amano.

Not less than sixty States have shown in recent years with the Vienna their desire for nuclear reactors to generate electricity payday advance online . "The expectation in these countries is very strong," said an organizer of the conference. Iran and North Korea, which have violated their international obligations, have not been invited to Paris, unlike Syria and Libya.

Click on image to enlarge.

Against "unfair and ineffective sacrifices, Greek officials Wednesday manifested in big cities. A 24-hour strike was launched by the Union Public Service ADEDY, with more than 300,000 members. Employees of public protest against wage cuts announced by the Socialist government to reduce deficits and thus reassure the markets.

Tuesday, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou reiterated wage austerity measures provided for in the Public Service wage freeze, down 10% premium, 30% decrease in overtime, stoppage of recruitment in 2010, except in the sectors of health, education and security. Labor Minister, Andreas Loverdos, proposed back two years to 2015 the average age of retirement to raise it to 63 years.

In Athens, about 5,000 union members protesting in the rain in the streets, which must be added the separate gathering of 5,000 activists of the union Struggle Front (PAME), an offshoot of the ultra-orthodox communist party (KKE). In Salonika, is counting down nearly 3,000 officers pounding the pavement.

Moreover, tens of thousands of officials have answered the call to strike the ADEDY. Air traffic controllers joined the strike and there was no traffic Wednesday in Greece.

Meeting of Finance Ministers of the euro area

These events occur when the finance ministers of the eurozone plan to meet as Wednesday by teleconference to discuss the situation in Greece, several diplomatic sources.In view of this meeting, Nicolas Sarkozy held talks by telephone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU President Herman Van Rompoy.

According to Le Monde, President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet and the chairman of the Eurogroup forum of finance ministers from the eurozone, Jean-Claude Juncker, will join the discussions.

This meeting will be held on the eve of a summit of EU leaders on the issue in Brussels saving account payday loan . At this stage, there is "not agree" on a plan of aid to Greece. The signs, however, a support mechanism for this country is growing. A senior parliamentary Conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Michael Meister, has indicated that preparations were underway in the German Government for an assistance plan.It could take the form of housing provision of bilateral loans to certain countries of the euro area in favor of Greece, to help cope with higher prices for its cost of borrowing on the markets since the beginning of the crisis. The option of an advance payment of EU subsidies to Greece is also considered.

Papandreou lunch with Nicolas Sarkozy

Prime Minister George Papandreou, who visited on Wednesday in Paris where he had lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reaffirmed his determination.He promised Wednesday to "take all necessary measures" to reduce the deficit and ensured that "each of the measures of the austerity program will be applied.

The Prime Minister had called in an attempt to limit the impact of the strike, officials to "lead by example" to help end the crisis.

Furthermore, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday held a joint press conference after the informal EU summit in Brussels, including the situation in Greece, said Wednesday the spokesman for the French government, Luc Chatel. "Under the EU summit, the president will have the opportunity to hold a joint press conference with Merkel on various subjects.I guess the question (of the situation in Greece) will be addressed, "said Luc Chatel in reporting to the press the work of the council of ministers.

"The French government is involved as its European partners on the situation of the euro and the situation in Greece in particular," he said, adding that the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde had "routine contacts with counterparts "on this issue.

"The Awards of the Asia-Pacific mixed

"Wall Street falls into the red

After closure of Wall Street without trend Monday, European stock markets are heading into the red Tuesday. In Paris the CAC 40 yielded 1.06% at 4000.05 points, in London, the FTSE-100 lost 0.71% to 5498.71 points and in Frankfurt the Dax concedes 1.61% to 5943 points.

The Central Bank of China has announced two measures to try to curb the overheating of the economy: raising the reserve requirement ratio for banks and rising interest rates on treasury bills to one year.

On Tuesday, the Bank of France issued at 8:30 its monthly business survey for the month of December: the gross domestic product (GDP) of France is expected to grow 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2009.For the full year 2009, the government expects a drop in GDP of 2.25%.

Fifteen minutes later, the Budget Ministry said the budget deficit of the French state has widened to a record 143.3 billion euros on 30 November, against 66.6 billion a year earlier, and is expected throughout 2009 slightly below 140 billion.

Yesterday after the close of U.S. markets, the g aught aluminum Alcoa has announced a return to the red in the fourth quarter with a net loss of $ 277 million, widening its losses to $ 1.151 billion in 2009.In the series of American publications yesterday, Electronic Arts announced that it raised its forecast for losses in 2009-2010.

In an interview with Le Figaro, Christine Lagarde, economy minister, justified the measure "exceptional" tax on the bonus, resulting in a bill for the banks of around 360 million euros.

Across the Atlantic trade for November will be highlighted at 14h30.

As for currencies, the euro begun to rise again against the dollar Tuesday after the rebound of the single European currency yesterday. The euro gained 0.09% to 1.4526 dollar. The oil in turn is sharply down. The barrel of Brent North Sea crude for February delivery lost 1.70% to 70.67 dollars per barrel "Texas Light Crude (WTI) traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange for the same maturity, nibbles 1 53% at 81.61 dollars.

The detailed values to follow.

The crisis is "British banking sector is not that unhappy. With benefit of growing discontent of the English against their traditional banks, Richard Branson, the exuberant creator of the Virgin empire, announced Friday the acquisition of a small regional bank in England, the Church House Trust, with plans to launch Virgin Bank before the end of the year. The acquisition received Friday, the blessing of Constable UK financial sector, the FSA.

The target of Virgin is very modest compared to industry giants. The takeover of the bank based in Yeovil, Somerset, costing only 12.3 million pounds (13.7 million euros).But mostly it allows the financial arm of Virgin to obtain a license for retail banking in Britain, which he was still lacking.

Virgin Money, which claims 2.5 million customers in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and South Africa, offers services of credit and savings accounts on the Internet, through partnerships with institutions like Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of America. Virgin Money has justified the choice of Church House Trust explaining that the bank had a very solid, with twice as many deposits (50 million pounds) in its coffers than loans (25 million pounds).

"The financial crisis has tarnished the reputations of several British banks, and Virgin Money will offer a different and better approach to the bank, said Friday Jayne-Anne Gadhia, boss of Virgin Money.

Bank charges challenged

With its excellent public image in areas as diverse as aviation, telephony and mobile Internet, the Virgin Group has a good card to play against the giants jostled both by the financial crisis and by repeated attacks from consumer associations and the policeman of the competition (Office of Fair Trading, OFT). These groups challenge bank charges consistently very high, including penalties for overdrafts.

Richard Branson tried to come into force on the market for retail banking two years ago, making an offer to buy Northern Rock, which had virtually collapsed in 2007, but after several months of hesitation, the government had decided to nationalize.

Despite this setback, Branson still keeps an eye on the Newcastle bank, which was one of the five biggest players for mortgages in Britain, and with healthy activities should soon be sold by the government. In agreement with the European competition, the British state should also require banks it has saved, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group, to divest a significant portion of their branch networks to new entrants in the sector. Opportunities for which are already in the running Virgin Money, the Spanish bank Santander, National Australia Bank and the giant British supermarket Tesco.

When prey is, UFC Que Choisir not let go. Just weeks after a complaint filed against the provider of Internet access (ISP) Free to improper billing of the hotline, the association of consumer advocacy attack again for collective redress "many and various unfair and unlawful" .

The UFC has assigned the Free interim High Court of Paris as part of an accelerated procedure. A decision motivated by complaints from several consumers who feel cheated by the rules of subscription and advertising provider. As the class action (editor's note: class actions in the courts) are impossible in France, is in his own name as the association claims 535,000 euros in damages.If Free is considered in the light of competition law, this amount could rise to 96 million, or 10% of the turnover of the company.

Unfair

Among the problems raised by clients and accepted by UFC, several relate to the conditions of sale. It is alleged the ISP to pre-check the option "Service Plus" in the subscription forms online so that this option costs EUR 9.99 per month. Worse, this addition does not appear in the sum total of the subscription rises to 39.98 euros per month and not 29.99 as stated. UFC has also criticized Free to impose a payment by debit to its subscribers. If they refuse, they are forced to pay a deposit of 400 euros to pay 4 euros per month extra.

And if the customer decides to cancel his subscription, it will take a period of one month instead of 10 days imposed by the Chatel Act. In addition, he must pay 96 euros less than 3 euros a month old. A change of address or request new equipment redo the note up to 96 euros automatically. "These practices are harmful. Free communicates on a price ceiling that is actually a floor price. Customers are direct victims, "indignant Catalina Chatellier, a lawyer specializing in new technologies at UFC Que Choisir.

Moreover, the association called for an end to the advertising campaign suggesting that provider with Free, the customer has all-inclusive. UFC said that in the € 29.99 that it cost to subscribe, like all other ISPs, calls to mobiles and special numbers are not included. Advertising can be misinterpreted.Similarly, the joint venture on so-called exclusive services actually are not as fast-Fi or parental control software.

"Most ISPs have policies effective sales and marketing as they come to pass in a few seconds a message of clarity and simplicity to consumers who actually is not," said Master Yann Lorang, Attorney at Law, Jakubowicz Mallet-Guy and Associates. "Today the drafting of terms of business of selling has become an art in that it must juggle the provisions protecting consumers while preserving the relationship of trust – and thus the imperative of return – between the operator and its customers, "said the lawyer.

Asked about the issue, Free declined to give his version."We do not comment on subpoenas in general and that it no longer," said a terse email from the Communications Department Iliad, the parent of Free.

History

Free is not his first assignment in the courts. Already in 2006, UFC Que Choisir had complained to protest the excessive taxation of calls to the hotline. In 2007, the ISP was forced to appeal a court decision sentencing him to repay three customers and remitted to the association 20 000 in damages for the same problem.

Last October, UFC Que Choisir was again to report a complaint hotline maintained an unfair price by 34 cents the minutes despite complaints. In November, the legal troubles continue with a historic decision of the Court of Cassation.This gave reason to a customer who complained Free to pay its entire supply Triplay (Internet, telephony and television) as he received no television. The court noted that the supplier is under an obligation of result when the services it offers. A decision should set a precedent.

Criticized for its lack of goodwill in the implementation of court decisions, Free found himself back on the wall. UFC Que Choisir hopes this time change its behavior. "They have everything to gain by giving a better image of themselves," says Catalina Chatellier.

More broadly, the decision to be taken following the hearing on March 9 should have a wider scope in the world of ISP. "Only the actions of this kind, not the individual claims mediators, can alter these contracts to more equality and fairness," said the lawyer Yann Lorang.

For Free, which should be awarded the fourth license at the end of the year, the new ads come in any involuntary case to a very bad time.

After four quarters of decline (-9.3% a year since the second quarter 2008), the slight upward trend is confirmed by figures from INSEE based on those of Notaries from promises of sale signed in Q2 year. While some professional networks, which Laforet Immobilier Wednesday, talk of a recovery, the increase in prices is to be interpreted with great caution.

Indeed, over the past twelve months, property prices remain former fallen sharply, from about 8%, and the number of transactions continues to fall. From September 2008 to September 2009, 550,000 housing transactions have been recorded in metropolitan France, down 25% compared to transactions a year earlier.

Increase of 0.7% in Ile-de-France

During the third quarter of 2009, prices of existing homes rose by 0.7% in Ile-de-France, driven by rising house prices (+1.9%). In one year, the decline is 8.3%: -7.5% for apartments and -9.5% for houses. In Paris, apartment prices rose 1.4% (-7.2% yoy) and those houses by 5.8% (-8.7% yoy). In the provinces, INSEE noted an increase in the third quarter versus the second quarter, 0.1% (+0.6% for the apartment and -0.3% for houses). In one year, the price of existing homes in the province decreased by 7.9% (-6.9% for apartments and -8.5% for houses).

A slow recovery

Improving conditions of loans to individuals for several months have been felt in the housing market. For the economist Michael Mouillart, the market is overtaking its lowest point."The worst is behind us, but the recovery will be slow. The rise in unemployment will slow the pace of recovery, but will not compromise, "analysis" he added that during the year 2010, sales volume should reach the former levels of about 500,000 to 525,000, and prices rise by about 2% to 3%. Mathilde Lemoine, Director of Economic Studies of the HSBC bank, however, is more reserved, "in 2010, stagnant wages due to rising unemployment, rising prices rose in nine and stabilization loan rates should influence the solvency of households and hence on home sales. "

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"DOCUMENT – All figures Notaries

The numbers of network Laforet Immobilier

The GDF Suez group presented on Thursday its quarterly financial results. In the first nine months of the year, operating income (EBITDA) is logged down by 2.7% to 10.1 billion euros. The group confirmed in a statement likely to increase positive one throughout the year 2009.

Always on the period from January to September, sales reached 57.9 billion euros, down moderately from 1.2% (-2.8% change in organic).

Net debt amounted to 27.8 billion euros at end September 2009, unchanged compared to end June 2009 and down 1.1 billion euros compared to late 2008.

"Group activity in the first nine months of the year confirms the strength of our business model. Despite the downturn that we announced in the third quarter, we confirm our annual targets.In a difficult economic environment, GDF SUEZ continues its industrial development while reducing its debt levels, allowing the group to prompt the return of growth in its major markets, "said Gérard Mestrallet, CEO of GDF Suez in connection with the publication of its results.

Danger on the accounts of the Association for the management of the guarantee scheme of employee claims, AGS. This organization employer advance loans to businesses, where backup, reorganization or liquidation, are no longer enough cash to pay the salaries of their employees, their benefits or even dismissal. In twelve months from October 2008 to end September 2009, the advances made by the AGS soared 47.9% to just under 2 billion euros. The number of beneficiaries has increased from 42.5% to just under 300 000 people.

"The strong growth of our business stems completely from the crisis justifies Météyé Thierry, the director of the delegation Unedic-AGS.We had to manage since the beginning of large media files such as the Camif. The caseload of over 100 employees and is also up sharply: 175 between the early and end of October, against 140 for all 2008 and 120 in 2007. Conversely, the amount of debts recovered caps (when business conditions recovered or recovering the amounts advanced on assets sold in liquidation). In one year, they have barely exceeded 600 million, a decrease of 3.7%. "The recoveries are increasingly difficult to operate," notes Thierry Météyé.

Given the imbalance, the SFA has decided to increase again by 0.1 point premium rate business in early October, to move it to 0.4% of payroll.This would double the rate in six months, exceeding the 700 million currently collected! "This represents a significant increase for businesses, recognizes Thierry Météyé. But it was necessary to meet rising demands in advance. "

Deficit of 215 million

Result, the AGS has a deficit of around 215 million euros. The agency hopes to fill with increasing revenue contribution in early 2010, with an increase in rates and stabilization of recovery levels.

Another note of hope: the decline of almost 40% in the third quarter of 2009 the number of collective proceedings opened. "The trend is particularly pronounced in September," said the SFA. Ditto on the number of backup procedures requiring the intervention of the SFA. In one quarter, they fell almost 20%."We're in a phase of stability," said Thierry Météyé.

"To wage increases in 2010

"Half of the executives were increased in 2008