State at the helm of the economy

The state is one of the most difficult concepts to apprehend. It is the instrument of collective action and is subject to the rule of law in liberal representative democracy. Today, more than ever, we need an effective state, but one which must be subject to the decisive obligations of impartiality, transparency and evaluation of the quality of its action with regard to the law and the means used.

In order to move towards the effective republican state, it should be divided into three components: a regalian state, a welfare state and a strategist-state. In non-regalian missions, the state should ‘get things done’ (i.e. ‘delegate’ or ‘subcontract’) rather than do them itself whenever possible. The welfare state must guarantee fundamental real rights, but it must also ensure the activation of expenditure to ensure that citizens are as much as possible at work and active with their lives. The strategist-state must contribute to a long-term vision by creating an optimal environment for growth on its territory, by maintaining a competitive tax system and by promoting infrastructure development and research and development.

Thus, public action is not linked to expenditure but to intelligence in the anticipation, organization and permanent evaluation of public action systems and procedures. The State must be strategic and above all should not be naïve!