Economic outlook for France: policy choices in an election cycle
France’s economic outlook is unfolding amid modest growth, elevated fiscal pressures and an increasingly fluid political environment. With public finances under scrutiny, reform momentum uneven and attention turning to forthcoming elections, the trajectory for policy and markets remains uncertain.
This discussion focuses on growth, inflation, fiscal policy and market implications, alongside a forward-looking assessment of key political milestones – including the Senate elections in September and the presidential elections next year.
Speakers
Olivier Garnier
Director General, Statistics, Economics and International
Banque de France (2017-26)
Olivier Garnier
Director General, Statistics, Economics and International
Banque de France (2017-26)
Olivier Garnier is Director General Statistics, Economics and International. Before joining the Banque de France in 2017, he held various positions at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, working notably as Economic Adviser to the Director of the Treasury (1992-94), and then to several ministers (1994-97). He also served as an economist at the US Federal Reserve (1990-92). From 1998 to 2017, he worked for Société Générale Group, serving notably as Deputy CEO of SG Asset Management, then as Group Chief Economist and as a member of the Group’s General Management Committee.
He was Chair of the French Economic Association (AFSE) from 2021 to 2022, and a member of the Economic Advisory Council from 2002 to 2012.
Marta Lorimer
Lecturer in Politics
Cardiff University
Marta Lorimer
Lecturer in Politics
Cardiff University
Dr Marta Lorimer is a Lecturer in Politics at Cardiff University and Visiting Fellow at the European Institute, London School of Economics. She is the author of ‘Europe as ideological resource: European integration and far-right legitimation in France and Italy’ (Oxford University Press, 2024). She has published widely on French and Italian politics, as well as on European Union politics.
Prior to joining Cardiff University, she held positions at the London School of Economics and University of Exeter. She has also held visiting positions at Forum MIDEM at TU Dresden and at the Centre d’Etudes Européennes in Sciences Po Paris.
David Marsh
Chairman
OMFIF
David Marsh
Chairman
OMFIF
David Marsh is Chairman and Co-Founder of OMFIF. Before starting at OMFIF in late 2009, he worked for City merchant bank Robert Fleming, corporate finance boutique Hawkpoint, German management consultancy Droege and London investment firm London & Oxford. Marsh took over the chairmanship from John Plender on 1 January 2018 having been Managing Director since 2014. He moved to a non-executive role following John Orchard’s appointment as Chief Executive effective 1 January 2020.