Economy of France
France's economy combines extensive private enterprise with substantial, but declining, government intervention.
Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe and, even after the loss of Algeria in the 1960s, the French economy remains one of the most important and influential economies in the world.
With over 77 million tourists a year, far ahead Spain (51,7M) and United States (41,9M) France is ranked as the major tourist destination in the world, featuring cities of high cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts and rural regions that many enjoy for their calm.
The government retains considerable influence over key segments of infrastructure sectors, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off holdings in France Telecom, Air France, as well as the insurance, banking, and defense industries.
Since the end of WWII the government made efforts to integrate more and more with Germany, both economically and politically, to form what is (as of 2004) called Franco German locomotive that pushes the entire European Union to be the most industrialized and rich economic power of all times. This alliance is the basis of what is called the "core" countries in favour of greater integration of the European Union.
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