Sarkozy Urges French to Play “the Game of Globalization”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy urges his nation to adopt business-friendly policies, while continuing to defend its values worldwide. To become more globally competitive, France may have to adjust labor polices that restrict employers from firing unproductive workers and require generous benefits, including long vacations and a 35-hour work week. Still, he couched his comments by noting that a truly free market is an "illusion" and that all nations set rules that protect their interests. France has long resisted globalization, reports this article in the New York Times, but Sarkozy's comments demonstrate an understanding that free trade and connections deliver more benefits than a go-it-alone approach. – YaleGlobal