In order to truly understand the solutions being proposed/enacted by Mr. Macron and the Paris government, we must first understand the problems they are currently facing. During the height of pandemic the French government announced a lockdown/control plan to try and minimize the transmission of the virus. On March 17, a lockdown was announced that suspended all businesses deemed non-essential until May 11, and required that anyone wanting to leave the confines of their home must request a permission slip. Aside from the obvious economic burdens, social inequality especially among working-class, front line workers, quickly set hold. The resulting social unrest quickly placed an ever greater burden on France’s already damaged economy. Other sectors of the

French economy have suffered as well. Artists and filmmakers have taken a particularly nasty punch from the pandemic as restrictions have placed massive obstacles for cultural productions including film productions.
When faced with these harsh economic realities, the question that remains is what can the French government do to re-bolster this quickly sinking ship. All eyes have been on President Macron as the French population hopes that his progressive fiscal and social policies will be able to pull the nation back from the brink. I am happy to say that Mr. Macron and his colleagues in Paris have been able to identify and even partially enact some promising solutions that could not only save certain of the French economy, but the economic future of the nation itself.

The solutions to France’s economic woes are complex, however, Mr. Macron seems to have identified and even begun enacting some of them. According to Financial Post authors, Sudip Kar-Gupta and Johnny Cotton, President Macron is offering bailouts for workers involved in the cultural sector. “French president Emmanuel Macron promised guaranteed stipends for out-of-work actors and money for filmmakers whose productions have been canceled, as part of a bailout for an arts industry shut down by the coronavirus.” While actions like these may only help a small sector of the economy, it is important to remember that the French economy as a whole can benefit from aid packages even if they are targeted at specific demographics. Another action President Macron has taken to try and revitalize the faltering French economy has been boosting the amount of Euros placed in the COVID-19 emergency fund.

According to RFI, “The package earmarks one billion euros for emergency aid to more than four million households, including special assistance of 150 euros per family receiving welfare benefits as well of 100 euros per child for the same families and those already on housing benefit.” The increase in funding available to the COVID-19 emergency fund will not only help stabilize the economy but will also give economically marginalized French citizens some desperately needed breathing room. However, as with any solution there is usually an obstacle. The obstacles to Mr. Macron’s plans for revitalizing the French economy will almost certainly be both domestic and foreign. Increased pressure from both inside the French nation and from other nations will almost certainly present unique challenges to the French President’s plans to bail out his suffering nation.