France’s Debt: How Big is the Problem?
#ZEWPodcastZEW Podcast “Wirklich Wirtschaft” with Professor Friedrich Heinemann
France has not presented a balanced national budget since 1974. Since then, the state has been spending more than it takes in. The yield on ten-year French government bonds broke through the critical five per cent mark in October 2026 – the highest level since 2002.
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In the latest episode of the ZEW podcast “Wirklich Wirtschaft”, Prof. Dr Friedrich Heinemann, Head of the ZEW Research Unit “Corporate Taxation and Public Finance”, discusses what France’s fiscal situation means for Europe and how France can stabilise its finances. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Deezer, as well as on the ZEW website.
