Over time, the point of view existed in France that financial independence is the tax independence. But recent years changes and decisions of the Constitutional Council showed that if local authorities even have the financial independence, they cannot enjoy any tax independence.
The lessons of history allow us to clarify contemporary issues, even despite the fact that every financial crisis has its own specifics. However, if we put aside the singlevalue decisions, we shall be able to identify constantly recurring problems that become apparent in those periods when public financial system malfunctions.
Families of Russified French people in 1930’s faced a monstrous baseness of authorities. The flourishing of art during this period was accompanied by numerous arrests. Many people had to work in prison.
The policy, known as “inflation tracking” implies complete freedom of the exchange rate, however the Central bank has always declared its desire to exercise regulation and control.
The crisis has revealed the existence of strategic contradiction in the Russian government, which leads to the fact that ministers of the different “blocks” act in the worst case independently of one another, at best — uncoordinated.
The French know very little about Russia. They learned the famous cliché and think that Russia is first of all mafia, corruption and the oligarchs, and it is impossible to understand how to work here. Of course, here there are specific business rules, and it is necessary to get adapted to them. On the other hand, the Russians have got not entirely true idea of France, which they adore.