We knew the fabric of SMEs insufficient in France. Comparisons with the German model, its "large SMEs' innovative and exporting family, were hardly flattering. But the new method adopted by INSEE to classify firms by size is even better in this light French weakness. The definition of the company formalized the end of 2008 no longer regarded as subsidiary companies of its own: it links them to the group they belong. In a study published on Tuesday, INSEE describes the corporate landscape of hexagonal resulting from this change. Conclusion: "The production base is much more concentrated than it seemed."

The breakdown by company size – large companies, medium-sized companies (ETI), SMEs and microenterprises – is turned upside down. In 2009, France had 2.7 million and entities (excluding agriculture and financial sector). Under the old way of counting, only a hundred of them exceeded the threshold of 5,000 employees that large companies. With the new definition and the inclusion of the concept of group, they spend a little over 200.

So, they employ 28% of employees, which is double what was the scope of large enterprises in the previous definition fast payday loan. They carry 33% of the value added (or 17% of GDP, also double the valuation date chosen) and account for half of exports. Similarly, with this new definition, the share of large enterprises in research and development expenses increased from less than 40% to 60%.

SMEs overrated

"Symmetrically, the weight of the other three categories of firms is less important," said INSEE. It is SMEs whose share "decreases the most." For nearly half of these companies with 10 to 249 employees are subsidiaries of a group or a larger enterprise.

Another lesson of the study, the weight of each sector is modified for the benefit of the industry, as the subsidiaries making or supporting business functions, previously classified in the service sector, are reinstated. The industrial workforce is located in "reinflated" by more than 2 points, representing 27.5% of total employees.

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So far, Francois Hollande was very talkative on controlling public spending. To prove his seriousness in budgetary matters, the PS argued the EUR 49 billion of tax increases planned – both graded increases to fund new measures and to reduce the public deficit to 3% in 2013. Change in tone Thursday on France 2. The Socialist candidate was more explicit result: the return to balance accounts in 2017 will also "by 50 billion savings on public spending," he said, highlighting a point that appears from the origin, but discreetly, in its program.

In fact, in a country where public expenditure accounts for 56.6% of GDP, while fiscal consolidation achieved through an action on the charges. Except as we stay in France. Unlike the choices made in the UK and measures imposed in Portugal or Greece, or Francois Hollande nor Nicolas Sarkozy proposed to actually reduce government spending, that is to say, the return of 100 euros a year to 95 next year. The two main candidates simply promise to slow the rise.

From 1978 to 2008, public spending grew on average by 2.6% per year, plus inflation. "We will limit their increases to 1% per year," said Francois Hollande. Right, this government promised in Brussels an increase of 0.4% per year until 2016. Then where are the savings put forward by both sides? This is actually a smaller increase in expenses, compared to their natural tendency (which is explained by the increase in salaries of civil servants, the increase in health spending, the rising number of retirees, etc.. ). This is supposed to be parallel to that of GDP. Example project with Holland. Without special measures, the approximately 1 trillion of government spending should increase as the national wealth (1.7% per year initially, 2.25% at the end, according to forecasts of the candidate). An average increase of about 2% per year during the future five-year-around 20 billion euros each year. The PS wants to limit their growth to 1% per year. The economy compared to the natural drift is 10 billion per year and $ 50 billion in the five year term. The weight of public expenditure in GDP would decline to 53.9% while in 2017 the government is 52.8% in 2016. In both cases, the action will inevitably unpopular.

Divisive options

Social benefits-health costs, pensions, family allowances or unemployment … – indeed absorb 45% of public expenditure. Just to bring growth in public spending to 0.7% in 2011, the current government had to reform pensions, act on Medicare and not to replace staff on two retiring.

Thursday, Francois Hollande suggested avenues for savings: lower prices and consumption of drugs, focus on health prevention, cuts in aid to enterprises, decentralization. Displaying its objective of stabilizing the size of the public, he admitted that there would be job cuts in all departments except Education, Justice and Home Affairs. "The salary policy will be serious," said Michel Sapin, program officer of the applicant, being careful not to promise any pay rise. And state transfers to local (one hundred billion a year) "will not progress." Not to mention that if economic growth is not at the rendezvous, the scheme collapses. Michel Sapin no plans yet not to intensify efforts in this case: "A real spending cuts could destabilize the economy," he retorts.

Advocating a greater effort, Nicolas Sarkozy announced the continuation of "one in two." The UMP also wants to cut $ 2 billion per year transfers to communities. Magnitude of the cuts, selected sectors: these options are politically divisive. But in a camp like in the other, the information disclosed so far are not enough.

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After Greece, out of bankruptcy risk through the release of a second bailout of 130 billion euros, it was Spain who finds himself in the crosshairs of the Eurogroup, meeting on Monday evening in Brussels. The Spanish finance minister will have to explain on the skids deficits Spanish before his peers, the European Commission and the ECB President.

The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, had a surprise, on March 2, alongside the European Council, stating that Spain would build his 2012 budget with a deficit target of 5.8% of GDP, while that agreed with the EU was 4.4%, to reach 3% of GDP deficit in 2013.

The market reaction was not long in coming. Following this, the cost of borrowing from Spain to 10 years jumped to nearly 5% more than for the first time in months, that of Italy. Guardian of the future "fiscal pact", the European Commission ordered a "serious blunder", brandished the threat of financial sanctions and sent experts to Madrid to assess the fiscal situation. Last year, the Spanish public deficit soared more than expected to reach 8.51% of GDP in late 2011.

Threat of sanctions

"There is no questioning of objectives," says the Spanish Minister of Economy, Luis De Guindos, in an interview Sunday on ABC newspaper. "Spain is a loyal member of the EU who feels bound by the European fiscal rules," he says.

Engaged in a very severe austerity measures, faces a general strike in late March because of its reform of the labor market, Spain is weighed down by losses of its regions, which have slipped to 2.9% of GDP against only 1.3% under-the Madrid region meets its objectives, which weighs heavily on central government accounts.

Barely out of the Greek crisis, "the euro area can not afford a new speculative attack," recalls one in Brussels. The Commission will ask the government to submit a plan "credible" to bring deficits to 3% in 2013, implying a say in Brussels on the draft budget 2012 Spanish.

Monday night, finance ministers from the euro area will give the green light to launch the second program of aid to Greece. Of 130 billion euros, the IMF should be involved up to 18 billion, said Christine Lagarde.

Even the Germans say they are reassured about the situation in Greece. "I am confident that the measures taken hard by the Greek government will put the country on the road to recovery," said German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, unwilling to speculate on a third plan to help … To parry , the European Central Bank will continue its buybacks of bonds on the secondary market, ensures Coeuré Benedict, a member of the Executive Board of the ECB to Japanese newspaper Nikkei.

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Starbucks is more determined than ever to tackle Nespresso. The U.S. coffee chain announced the launch before next summer vacation an espresso coffee machine equipped with a high pressure extraction system. The high-end system, called verismo, was designed in partnership with the German group Krüger. It will work with the Starbucks brand capsules.

Verismo will, initially, sold online, in a selection of chain restaurants and in specialized distributors, while the United States, Canada and "certain international markets." No details were given about the distribution strategy of the capsules (the Internet, in supermarkets …) and their prices.

"France is one of the markets under consideration, such as England or Germany in Europe, said Olivier de Mendez, director of marketing France. But for now, the agreement concerns only the U.S. and Canada. "

"The coffee segment fastest growing"

This launch marks a new stage in the desire for conquest driven by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, which took over the reins of the company in 2008. Recently asked by Le Figaro (our editions of March 3), he did not want hidden stick as closely to the expectations of customers, wherever they are. In town, in malls, but also "in stations, airports, restaurants, trains and hotels."

The founder will therefore also continue to their home, with this offer premium caps, a growing market. "This segment is the one with the strongest growth in the coffee sector," explains Howard Schultz. "At group level, this is an important innovation that allows people to replicate the Starbucks experience at home, says Olivier de Mendez. The machine will make espresso, latte, coffee and coffee filters lying. "" We now have the opportunity to reach millions of consumers, "commented Jeff Hansberry, in charge of developing distribution channels.

Years ago that Starbucks is trying to sell his coffee out of his own restaurants. A strategy not so easy to implement. The chain, which was allied with Kraft to sell coffee in bags in supermarkets, became angry with the giant global agribusiness and broke the partnership.

Record results last year

In March 2011, Starbucks announced an alliance with the first Keurig and Green Mountain in the machinery sector and pods. This agreement resulted in development since November Keurig machines offering drinks Starbucks in grocery stores and supermarkets. 100 million pods were sold, according to Starbucks. But Keurig machines are low pressure, which does not allow them to make espresso. They offer five different varieties of coffee, but only filter, and two teas.

The announcement of the new agreement between Starbucks and Krüger caused a plunge in stock prices from Green Mountain this weekend. The boss of Starbucks has yet assured that this partnership remained "solid". The stock market especially liked his strategy of moving upmarket. Last year, the company announced record results, and she is determined to put a boost in Europe.

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While the first three mobile operators declared war on the new entrant Free, France Telecom unveiled details of its contract with the fourth operator. The CEO of France Telecom, parent company of Orange, Stéphane Richard said in an interview with Les Echos that the roaming agreement signed with him rent for Free mobile network will report "significantly higher revenue than the original one billion euros" .  

The CEO of the operator partly owned public does not advance on a possible extension of the current contract with free-roaming covering communications for second and third generation-the new 4G standard that will provide mobile users transmission capacity comparable to cable.

Under fire from other operators who feel like Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi and SFR, Orange has offered "the best technological conditions" to Free Stéphane Richard replies that her group has not make gifts to the new entrant. He said that "it is not the economic conditions of homelessness that make attractive offers Free. The controller and the CEO of Iliad, do not they also said that the financial conditions of homelessness clearly incited Free Mobile to invest in its own network? "Stephane Richard also ensures that employees France Telecom is aware "that the contract with free roaming, the recipes for it (…) provides, will partly offset the negative effects of the arrival of the fourth operator in the market." Free delighted 400,000 in Orange, and all operators in a month and a half only, Free Mobile has attracted 1.5 million customers, according to estimates by Stéphane Richard, Free for now refuses to confirm.

Finally, Stephane Richard said he was "quite shocked" by the statements of the President of ARCEP, encouraging operators to draw conclusions from the arrival of Free and reduce costs. The CEO of France Telecom wonders if this is "an invitation to make redundancies, when one tries to save manufacturing jobs throughout the territory," or of "an incentive to share infrastructure. " A track he considers "paradoxical."

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The government should give priority to savings at risk for unpopular measures. The legal age of retirement could be increased to include 62 years from 2016 or 2017, when the reform was originally scheduled for 2018.Prime Minister Francois Fillon will return to this plan tonight during the 20-hour television news on TF1.

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"Buyers more opportunistic and strategic"

To the general manager of Crédit Foncier, today's generation is more "strategic" than their elders who could probably more easily buy a long-term bad credit pay day loans. "We are faced with more opportunistic buyers, which are placed on a financial and strategic option," he said. Today's buyers who have experienced a doubling of prices in ten years are more responsive to market conditions according to this survey (75% against 66% for buyers of the 2000s) but not more concerned than previous generations to build a retirement investment (on average, between 71% and 72% by generation).

In this context of rising prices, buyers today feel more proud to own (67% against 54% for generation 2000). Generation in 2000, helped by a favorable economic environment, expressed "most satisfied", the buyers of the 1990s say they are "reasonable" and those of the 1980s put forward the "sacrifices" made to repay the loan.

This rise of the single currency is a sign, according to one analyst, "the market seems a little more optimistic." In fact, for several weeks and an acute crisis on debt, the euro was more the subject of a "massive unwinding of positions."

Investors continue to regain confidence in the idea of ​​a solution to the debt crisis.Policymakers ensure that the enlargement of the European financial stability will be ratified soon, Slovakia should indeed turn around in a new vote tomorrow. What can the countries of the euro area together to help troubled banks to recapitalize, to avoid the bankruptcy of an institution that could create a systemic shock.

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The third richest man in the world it reveals an annual income of $ 62.8 million in 2010. But thanks to various deductions which it benefits, taxable income does not exceed $ 39.8 million, he had already made clear this summer, so he paid $ 6.9 million in U.S. Treasury as 2011au the tax. Either a tax rate of 17.3%, lower than that fulfill many Americans from the middle class, including his secretary, said, according to AFP, the billionaire in a letter dated Tuesday.

Call for Rupert Murdoch

Warren Buffett, who supports the Obama administration's desire to impose more richer to reduce the U.S. deficit, has also urged his countrymen to publish very easy to turn their tax form no fax cash loans. "It is clear that many ultra rich pay even lower percentages than me on the federal government, and get the amount of taxes could be useful to legislators to establish a fair tax code," he wrote to Tim Huelskamp.

Warren Buffett had called last week Rupert Murdoch, owner of the Wall Street Journal, to publish its tax-bill, after the publication of an editorial highly critical of the "Buffett tax" in the popular business daily.

A report published on October 7 by the Office of the U.S. Congress is in support of the speech of Warren Buffett.According to the report, 25% of American millionaires, or 94,500 people actually pay less tax than the 10.4 million households earning less than $ 100,000 a year. On average, however, the millionaires perform according to the report of a tax rate of 30% when these middle-class households are taxed at only 19%.

In parallel, Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek finance minister, yesterday met with Jean-Claude Trichet, head of the ECB, to negotiate a restructuring of the Greek debt at a discount of between 40% and 50%.The minister said that "there is no alternative to restructuring." He said at the annual meeting of the Institute of International Finance (IIF), an association of 450 banks in the world: "We are ready to take the necessary whatever the political cost." And said it was confident about the outcome of the vote in parliament of the new austerity plan, condition of the granting of new loans of the troika, because according to him "which member will take responsibility to lead Greece to a default? ".

Germany mobilized

A view shared by the French Minister for European Affairs, Jean Leonetti, who said Sunday that "Greece will avoid bankruptcy because it is the interest of the Greek state, the Greek people and is the interest of us all.If Greece were to fail tomorrow, it would cost more than if it did not go bankrupt, "he said on Radio France International business card.

The Heads of State and Government in July found an agreement to rescue Greece and broaden the scope of intervention of the relief fund of the zone (EFSF), including providing it with an instrument enabling it to market purchases of debt of states in difficulty. This agreement is being ratified by 17 national parliaments in the area. The vote of Germany, the country is the biggest contributor to EU aid plans appear on track.In a television interview Sunday night, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has indeed shown the outcome of the confidence vote scheduled Thursday in the Bundestag.

In addition, the German Chancellor said that allowing Greece to fail would destroy investor confidence in the euro area and could cause infection comparable to that following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

The rising social discontent in Greece

But Greece will probably have to wait beyond the holding of a Eurogroup meeting on Oct. 3 before a decision on the release of the next tranche of aid."Given the delay by the Troika mission (IMF, ECB and European Commission), I do not think that the next meeting of the Eurogroup, October 3, a decision on the sixth installment," said Sunday Washington Deputy German Finance Minister, Jörg Asmussen

In addition, the rising social discontent in Greece. Further strikes are planned next week before a general strike on October 19.

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