In France,economic growth is at its lowest ebb since the oil crisis of 1973. President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to jumpstart the economy with the usual tools of state capitalism as French leaders usually do. The ailing car industry,for example,is to receive billions of aid on the condition that no one gets fired. The state has holdings in many other sectors,and is busier than ever ensuring damage control. We head to the South of France to visit the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company,a firm in which the state has a 22.5 percent share.
