#364 Qui profite vraiment de l'argent public? Partie 2 avec Caroline Michel Aguirre

·52 min·5 clips

STMicroelectronics received 487 million euros in aid but paid only 100,000 euros in taxes in France.

This episode is part two of a discussion with journalist Caroline Michel Aguirre about her investigation into public aid to French companies. She begins by noting a parliamentary inquiry corroborated her findings of approximately 270 billion euros in aid. Aguirre questions why this hasn't sparked public outrage, attributing it to the topic not being named in budgets and political polarization preventing discussion. She details specific cases, like STMicroelectronics, which received 487 million euros in aid in 2023 but paid only 100,000 euros in taxes in France, highlighting legal optimization. The conversation critiques France's supply-side economic policy, arguing it hasn't 'trickled down' but instead increased poverty while enriching the wealthy. Aguirre references studies showing marginal risk of tax exile for the ultra-rich and compares France's approach to Italy's and Spain's conditional aid systems. She discusses the failure of deindustrialization, noting Germany and Italy adapted differently. The episode explores alternatives like using public procurement to drive economic goals, as seen with the Paris 2024 Olympics. Aguirre emphasizes that multinationals with international shareholders may not reinvest in France, undermining sovereignty arguments. She concludes by urging citizens to read political programs, engage with representatives, and use tools like her book to demand accountability, framing collective action as the solution.

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