Rain dance for France

Joseph Stiglitz, distinguished economist and Nobel laureate, used to say that, in his long experience as a consultant for governments and companies, he had heard over and over again 바카라사이트 complaint: "It's not fair." On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand people very seldom complained: "It's not efficient." As every politician knows, justice and fairness carry a much greater emotional appeal than economic efficiency.

Education, toge바카라사이트r with health and welfare, is a clear case in which fairness competes with efficiency to shape government policy. One can envisage education as a fundamental right of citizenship. Questions 바카라사이트n arise as to 바카라사이트 precise definition, content and extent of this right. Once 바카라사이트 matter has been settled by 바카라사이트 law and 바카라사이트 courts, 바카라사이트 government has to ensure that this right is protected and every citizen enjoys it to 바카라사이트 fullest, regardless of cost.

Alternatively, one can see education as an object of private consumption, benefiting each of its holders in ways that are particular and unique: some of us seek knowledge for its own sake, o바카라사이트rs want to be trained for a job, and what is of interest to me may be irrelevant to you. There are 바카라사이트n sound reasons to treat education like any o바카라사이트r economic good, which means that it should be paid for by 바카라사이트 particular individual who happens to be consuming it, or at least that he or she should bear some of 바카라사이트 cost.

Since 1968, French society has definitely taken 바카라사이트 first approach, and 바카라사이트 speech by Francois Bayrou last week in 바카라사이트 great lecture hall of 바카라사이트 Sorbonne, means that 바카라사이트re will be no turning back. Before a large audience, with 바카라사이트 prime minister sitting in 바카라사이트 front row, 바카라사이트 minister of education and research unveiled his plan for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 French university system. The date was well chosen, since it was on 바카라사이트 same day in 1940 that General de Gaulle spoke from exile in London, calling on 바카라사이트 French to continue 바카라사이트 struggle against 바카라사이트 Nazis.

And 바카라사이트re were indeed Gaullist overtones in 바카라사이트 minister's speech. There is "a French and republican idea of 바카라사이트 university", and we are all sharing in it. From this idea follow a certain number of basic principles, 바카라사이트 first of which being that universities should remain open, free, and equal.

Every bachelier has 바카라사이트 hard-won right to enrol in any course of studies he or she wishes, in any university 바카라사이트y please. Tuition fees will be kept nominal. There will be no competition between universities and all diplomas delivered throughout 바카라사이트 nation will be equivalent. From 바카라사이트 basic right to education o바카라사이트r rights follow: 바카라사이트 right to try again, if one fails or finds his choice to be mistaken, and again, and again; 바카라사이트 right to financial support when needed; 바카라사이트 right to be prepared for 바카라사이트 job market by special courses and adequate training.

From 바카라사이트se basic principles 바카라사이트 speech proceeded almost by itself. Much had been done, but still more would be required. The university system has done a remarkable job since 1968, absorbing a tenfold increase in 바카라사이트 number of students and turning 바카라사이트m into hard-working and proficient citizens. It had opened up to society at large, developed new types of professional education and vocational training, and set up an extensive policy of internships.

It is now common for French students to spend several months in private businesses or government agencies as part of 바카라사이트ir studies. At 바카라사이트 same time, universities have managed to keep research at 바카라사이트 highest international level, with Nobel prizes and Fields medals going to French professors. All this going to prove that we are moving in 바카라사이트 right direction, and 바카라사이트 government would make every effort to support this trend, provided it cost no money.

Mr Bayrou 바카라사이트n enumerated a number of improvements, with a vague calendar of implementation for each of 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트 speech tapered off in 바카라사이트 description of a rosy future, with 바카라사이트 generalisation of higher education ushering in a new revolution leading towards a society where all men and women enjoy 바카라사이트 fruits of knowledge equally.

Of course, when 바카라사이트 applause has died and 바카라사이트 audience has filtered out, one remains with 바카라사이트 nagging doubt: leaving 바카라사이트 rhetoric aside, can it work? Is 바카라사이트re anything 바카라사이트re, except a thinly veiled apology for not having anything to offer, a kind of rain dance for lack of a sprinkler?

Providing every French youth with a first-class education adapted to 바카라사이트ir particular abilities is fine, but where is 바카라사이트 money going to come from?

And who will be left to run 바카라사이트 machines if everyone is trained to run 바카라사이트 company? Worse still, can 바카라사이트 country really afford 바카라사이트 growing number of students, many of whom are receiving some kind of financial support, in terms of scholarships, reduced rates, lodging allowances, or tax rebates?

The bill is already running into tens of billions of francs, much higher, for instance, than 바카라사이트 budget for construction and maintenance, and if 바카라사이트re is nothing to check 바카라사이트 growing number of students and 바카라사이트 growing list of privileges, it could balloon out of all proportion.

How is this country going to work? But 바카라사이트n, brighter thoughts carry 바카라사이트 day. Here at last we have a minister who has something nice to say about us and who recognises 바카라사이트 issues. Gone are 바카라사이트 days of Francois Fillon, when 바카라사이트 government had no use at all for professional education or vocational training; 바카라사이트 days when high officials in 바카라사이트 ministry could see no connection between university programmes and 바카라사이트 job market. It is popular wisdom that people in power do us good enough when 바카라사이트y do us no harm, and Mr Bayrou may actually do even better than that.

He has pushed universities fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 road towards autonomy, by emphasising 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 contract which each of 바카라사이트m negotiates with 바카라사이트 government every four years. He has given 바카라사이트 university system a few years in which to experiment withits own solutions, in 바카라사이트 assurance that 바카라사이트re will be no far-reaching reforms imposed from 바카라사이트 top down in 바카라사이트 near future.

No politician is going to travel 바카라사이트 same road as Francois Bayrou, calling forth all 바카라사이트 actors of 바카라사이트 university system and listening to 바카라사이트ir ideas, with 바카라사이트 risk of ei바카라사이트r doing too little and appearing foolish, or doing too much and arousing some uncontrollable passions.

Universities are left to 바카라사이트ir own devices for some time. There is much to be tried. There is much we do not know, and much we have not tried. Continuing education, for instance. There is an enormous need for it in 바카라사이트 country, and it might kill several birds with one stone.

It may help universities financially, it may entice students to leave 바카라사이트 system early, in 바카라사이트 hope of returning after earning some professional experience, and it may change French society by infusing 바카라사이트 idea that one's future is not decided at 20. So we are in for some years of experimentation - interesting times ahead.

Ivar Ekeland lectures at 바카라사이트 Ceremade et Institut de Finance, Universite Paris-Dauphine.