International & World Report

An error of a few grams but is heavy in the wallet of the consumers. At the request of the Minister of Industry, Eric Besson, thirty center agents associated with the regional business competition, consumption, labor and employment (Direccte), inspected the measuring devices of 2800 semi-wholesalers and wholesalers (20% of the sector) during the months of September and October. Objective: To verify that the threads of clementines or roast veal in trays are much the weight indicated. More than 9000 scales, sorters, wrappers and scales were inspected. The results are edifying. According to the Saturday edition of Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France, a five-machine would be set incorrectly, often at the expense of the customer.

Experts allow a margin of error of 1 gram per kilo.According to Marc Le Parco, national coordinator of the verification campaign, was quoted as saying. The slightest irregularity can quickly take on dramatic proportions. Few grams of each product purchased and the financial impact is significant for the home … especially in times of crisis where some households are very fragile.

Cell specific investigation, however, that this dysfunction is not necessarily a desire to mislead the customer. In most cases this is due more to negligence because companies often delay their legal control instruments, or even eventually forget them. Initially, agents are content therefore to discipline professionals. A record is then written in the second offense.

Demonstrate the sensitivity of the issue of employment at PSA Peugeot Citroën in five months of the presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy is personally seized it yesterday. While he has made the defense of employment in the automobile one of its most cherished since the crisis of 2008-2009, he attempted to play down the scope of the saving plan of the manufacturer who announced Tuesday 6000 job cuts in Europe, with more than 4000 in France with the positions of providers.

"There will be no social PSA in France," said Nicolas Sarkozy, to mark the third anniversary of the creation of the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF). Picking up on the commitments of Philippe Varin , CEO of the group, it has has ensured that some 2000 employees of the group directly threatened in France (excluding retirements) would be "reclassified all."Nicolas Sarkozy was outraged to learn that Renault, which the state holds 15% stake, plans to transfer all of the production of its Clio 4 future in Turkey. Carlos Ghosn had to backtrack after being summoned to the Elysee.

The automotive industry employs, directly or indirectly, 2.3 million people in France, 9% of the employed population.

From our correspondent in Brussels

For the euro, auctions have never been so high. The Heads of State or Government rejected twice by the end of the game. They meet Wednesday night to decide on a "package" massive enough to stop the contagion of debt, no more poor national treasuries and banks already weakened by the crisis.

Prime Minister François Fillon asked Tuesday the issues preventing a failure "could push the European continent to unknown lands." The common currency is, with the single market, the cement of the EU. Dramatization, she stretches under the gaze of politicians: in Rome, London or Berlin, the crisis of the euro weakened government coalitions. The majority of Silvio Berlusconi Tuesday seemed on the verge of bursting.David Cameron faces a near-rebellion in its ranks conservatives, not on the euro but even on membership of the United Kingdom to the EU.

Defense against infection

For now, Angela Merkel seems less threatened. But witness the influence of its parliamentary majority on crucial European choices, the Chancellor will accept the decisions of the summit after obtaining a travel order tightened the Bundestag. "There is no need to top, just look at the parliamentary debate before the Bundestag on TV," a European diplomat scoffed Tuesday. At the heart of the debate in Germany find themselves the roles of the European bailout fund and the ECB's refinancing loans become vulnerable to large countries like Italy or Spain.

The drama may come from Silvio Berlusconi.Italy, the third continent's economy, has taken the place of Spain in the nightmares of the leaders of the euro area. To it they think of first when they say they want to erect a barrier against infection. Nicolas Sarkozy has strongly requested the Italian Prime Minister to introduce an austerity plan credible to their peers. Tuesday evening, all indicated that the Cavaliere would arrive in Brussels on hands almost empty. He could get away with a pirouette. "Who will take the risk of rekindling the fire on the euro, claiming that Italy is definitely not serious?" Asks a well-placed observer.

Tuesday in Brussels, experts and diplomats continued to activate a device described as "quite substantial".But this is not the only issue: Wednesday evening, "it will be for each to balance the three points of a triangle: accept economic reality difficult to convince a sustainable markets and minimize the impact of the election austerity" . The crisis has entered its most political.

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Despite successive reforms, the future of pensions remains uncertain. According to the circle of investors, it is expected that the replacement rate – that is retired from the last wage – down in the next twenty years. Middle managers, especially, will be penalized with lower returns on supplementary schemes. Individuals are aware they will have to save to preserve their future purchasing power. They can do this by reducing their taxes. Several savings products can indeed be a winner on the tax.

The Perp: still little used

The most universal of these savings products is also the least known. The popular retirement savings plan (PERP), established to encourage the French to build and open to all, hard to seduce.According to figures from the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA), 27,000 new Perp were subscribed in the first half of 2011, 2% more than in 2010, but the number of building plans has stagnated at around 2, 1 million since its inception in 2004. "It produces a tunnel that compares poorly with the life insurance contracts, where the funds are not blocked until retirement and also offer a tax advantage," said Marc Darnault, Associate Optimaretraite consulting firm.Perp of the main asset is the ability to deduct contributions from taxable income, with two limitations: the amount deducted must not exceed 10% of earned income, and must remain lower for the 2012 tax return, to 28,281 euros – 10% of eight annual ceilings for Social Security (Pass).

The placement is especially interesting for those imposed in the higher brackets (30 and 41%) of the Income Tax Act and is most appropriate as thirty fifties. The Perp suffers from a disability second. The sums are blocked until retirement recovered mainly in the form of an annuity.Only 20% of funds can be "removed" capital (they are then subject to withholding tax of 7.5%), except in special cases (acquisition of a principal residence indebtedness, disability …) "The Perp is a wager on life expectancy, "says Marc Darnault. The pension amount is difficult to assess in advance and then it will suffer the same tax that the pension provided by the general scheme, namely the scale of income tax after deduction of 10%.

The Perco: the advantage of leaving capital

In comparison, the Retirement Savings Plan (PERCO), which allows the retirement funds out an entire capital – option selected by three-quarters of investors – more attractive.Reserved for the minority of employees whose company has set up this device (about 2.8 million people affected), it has experienced in 2010 an increase of 27% over 2009, according to the French Association of Financial Management (AFG). Some 690,000 employees have passed and the stock reached 4 billion euros on 31 December, an increase of 35% in one year.

The Perco can be powered both by the employee, who can contribute a maximum of 25% of its revenues, as the employer of up to triple up to a maximum of 5,656 euros per year. These payments are exempt from social charges and tax. Only the CSG (7.5%) and CRDS (0.5%) must be paid. "It's a little device binding is a management tool. It may in fact be powered by the profit-sharing payday advance low fees.Since 2010, half of it is also paid directly to the Perco, "said Philippe Crevel, general secretary of the Investors' Circle, which advises to choose security, particularly at the approach of retirement. "It should also be careful because insurers who manage packages often encourage more risky," warns Marc Darnault.

Préfon: The Perp of the Public Service

This optional retirement plan is open to staff and those who worked for a time in the public service. He met with mixed success. Only 3.7% of potential members contribute to gain points Préfon. A lack of interest that can be explained by the low incentive to contribute, the Pension Plan of the Public Service to ensure a replacement rate of 75%."This has made less sensitive to the officials the opportunity to purchase additional pension that private sector employees, including the replacement rate is 50%," says Philippe Crevel. In addition, the level of pension paid will depend on the pension point value, passed annually in the board. A rather complex system that does not allow the insured to have a clear idea of ​​what it touches.

The Préfon was dusted in early 2011. If the principle is the payment of a pension supplement in the form of annuity (taxed at the rates of income tax after deduction of 10%), it is now possible to recover 20% of the money invested capital (taxed 7.5%). Its main attraction is nevertheless able to reduce its income tax by contributing.As for the Perp, amounts paid annually to the Préfon are tax deductible within the limit of 28,281 euros for 2011 income.

Madelin: a necessary complement to the self

Created to encourage self-employed (merchants, independent artisans, professionals, leaders of society … self-employed) to accumulate savings and a pension insurance scheme Madelin contracts are tax-advantaged. As for the Préfon and Perp, contributions are deductible from taxable earned income (BIC or BNC). The device is even more advantageous, since the deduction of 10% of income to a maximum of 28,281 euros plus an additional deduction equal to 15% on income between 35,352 euros (the maximum Social Security for 2011) and 282,816 euros (eight times in the past). The maximum deduction is set at 65,401 euros."Contributing to this diet is all the more necessary for the self that the benefits of their pension base are lower than for employees," said Marc Darnault.

According to the circle of investors, 61% have an independent contract Madelin (including retirement). The FFSA counted 899,000 contracts outstanding of 1.1 billion euros. The funds invested – usually on euro fund or units of account such as life insurance – are recoverable in the form of an annuity (taxed at the rates of income tax). No events capital is possible except in very specific cases of bankruptcy or disability of the investor.Finally, unlike other retirement investments, payments on contracts Madelin must be regular.

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• Incidents in Rome

Tens of thousands of demonstrators, inspired by the "outrage" of Wall Street and Spain, marched Saturday in Rome, the city had been cordoned off by police. "One solution, the Revolution!", "We are not property in the hands of bankers," could be read on the signs of the protesters.

In Rome, several cars were torched. Photo credits: ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP

Banks still working hard to provide for bank charges. Including payment cards. A study by the magazine 60 million consumers, an international card is billed an average of 37 euros per year, while its cost is only 5 euros. Half of the institutions have even raised prices in two years.

Banks 'traditional' is the Postal Bank which offers the lowest rates with an average annual cost of 73 euros, ahead of Caisse d'Epargne Ile-de-France (83 euros) and Societe Generale (93 euros ). Bringing up the rear, there is Crédit Mutuel Ile-de-France (133 euros) and CIC (140 euros). But the banks 'traditional' remain far behind online banking, according to the survey published in the journal business cards.Including ING Direct, which continues to lead but the price of the basket of basic services is no longer free but is 10 euros.

To perform its study, the magazine wrote a basket of ten banking services under the Act Lagarde. It includes an international payment card with deferred debit, the new edition of the code card, a transfer to another bank, the blocking of a check, looking for an archived document for over a year, account management on the Internet and any account maintenance fees.

The bill for banks that have distributed toxic loans to local authorities may be salty. Claude Bartolone at war for three years against Dexia and its sister does not count because no release. PS MP who chairs the Assembly today a Commission of Inquiry on "risky financial products underwritten by local" has already federated number of public entities that have contracted loans toxic.

The President of the General Council of Seine-Saint-Denis since 2007 fought first for his department. Claude Bartolone has discovered that he had contracted in 2008, led by Communists, many loans have become toxic. Thus, a debt of 953 million euros, the joint may have to pay a premium of about $ 300 million over the next ten years because of toxic loans contracted between 1997 and 2008."The equivalent of building a school year," criticizes Claude Bartolone. "And that amount could be even higher," said the MP. In fact, some of the loans contracted by the municipality are indexed to the Swiss franc and interest rates can reach 50% depending on the evolution of the franc.

Most disturbing is that the department of Seine-Saint-Denis (93) is not alone in this. MP PS refers to "hospitals, small towns or communes, departments, ports such as port of Le Havre" and "communes of all political stripes like Saint Etienne, Rouen, Saint Maur or Saint Tropez."

According to Claude Bartolone, "the total amount of toxic loans granted to public entities be around 15 billion euros of which would be 5 billion of potential losses."

"Banks can not not pay"

MP PS is clearly concerned the role of banks. He said "they are responsible for the explosive situation in the French subprime" where thousands of municipalities are now over-indebted. Indeed, it is satisfied that they have not fulfilled their code of ethics. "They had a duty to inform and how their customers customized uninitiated" or the quest for profit seems to have guided more banks. Thus, the President of the General Council 93 filed a complaint against Dexia, Depfa and Calyon (Credit Agricole). The court should rule in October. But even Claude Bartolone said that "banks can not avoid paying." The MP also believes that "the whole chain has failed." The state has not applied a circular on the prohibition of structured products and regulatory authorities have also failed in their duty.A helping hand of the state can not be excluded.

Otherwise, "the local authorities would be forced to raise local taxes, reduce investment and jobs." And technically if the failure of a local community is not possible, it can be put under the tutelage of the state as was the case of Angouleme, said the chosen PS.

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The government is auctioning the frequencies, which will be used for mobile fourth generation (4G). What is it?

The mobile phone transmits the voice (or data) using radio waves, which propagate in the air "waves" continuous. The frequency (measured in hertz, Hz) is the number of "waves" per second.

To make the operators therefore need to get the government of frequencies, located in a strip precise and well defined, so as not to interfere with radio, television, defense, aviation and so on.

But the frequencies are inherently limited. They are therefore a scarce and highly contested. In addition, they are not all the same quality in terms of capacity and speed of propagation. To put it very simply, the more frequencies are lower, the better they are.Frequencies "low" (below 1GHz) have good propagation properties. They provide a national coverage less expensive because they require less equipment. They also have better penetration in buildings, improving coverage "indoor". Low frequencies therefore offer the best technical and economic conditions for the deployment of large networks with national coverage.

Historically, the FM radio is in the 100 MHz band, the television in the 470 to 862 MHz. Telecom operators are above the frequency band.

• 4G (voice, SMS, MMS, mobile Internet fast): 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz. The frequencies currently 4G auction are of two types.

On the one hand, the frequencies called "gold" because they are located in the low frequencies 800 MHz band.As they spread further into the atmosphere, the operators do not need to put a lot of equipment to cover a given area, making these frequencies are well adapted to cover the rural areas. But their price is high. Released during the transition to DTT, they were recovered by the government from television, through the so-called "digital dividend". Since this frequency band is close to that of television, mobile 4G can still create interference and interference with TNT in some places.

In addition of frequencies known as "high" as they are in the 2.6 GHz band. They are particularly suited to dense urban areas. But they require high investments.

• 3G (voice, SMS, MMS, mobile Internet start): 2GHz.The current generation of mobile phones, called 3G (or UMTS), operates in the 2 GHz band, with opportunities to 2.5 GHz. To ensure a good signal coverage, operators have had denser network and stations install more emissions than the generation before. The result of the economic costs and increasing difficulties to cover the white areas.

• 2G (voice, SMS, MMS): 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. The previous generation, known as 2G (or GSM), worked – and still works – in the 900 MHz band and 1800 MHz in Europe. Each operator had to build a network of more than 15,000 base stations. Bouygues Telecom, the third came on the market was at a disadvantage: he had received 1800 MHz frequencies, requiring a denser network and therefore more expensive than its competitors Orange and SFR.In the U.S., GSM in the band of 1900 MHz, hence the need for a phone "tri-band" when traveling in the United States.

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Party in May to conquer the mobile market, La Poste is a misfortune! The group has attracted 150,000 customers in three months. "We had anticipated 25,000 sales per month, we are at 50,000, is two times more than expected," revealed to Figaro Jacques Rapoport, Deputy Director General of La Poste Group and CEO of La Poste. And if postal workers were starting the first customers, they are now a minority.

This success has also led to stock shortages, some bugs and a saturation of computer centers. "We suffered a bit but it is now settled," said Jacques Rapoport, who is reviewing its objectives and is on the rise now "300,000 to 400,000 customers by the end of the year, against 210,000 originally planned."

No typical profile for the client to the mobile station, which is recruited from all social classes and age.Offers balanced, "there are so many packages with high-end smartphones that prepaid kits. The social package (10 euros for 45 minutes of calls and 60 SMS, Ed) also works well with 10% of sales, "said Jacques Rapoport. "The smaller are welcome here. But we are not the operator of the poor. We are committed to serve all customers. "Finally, subscriptions (most profitable) are in the majority compared to prepaid. Another lesson: while the Post was the first to launch non-binding offers, customers prefer offers mostly sold with a phone and then a commitment.

This initial assessment also confirms the importance played by the network of post offices which carries 75% of sales, the remaining 25% being done by Internet and telephone quick payday loans. "They want us to believe that everything is sold on the Internet. This is not reality.Consumers want the closeness and service. Seen in the return of small businesses face the hypermarkets, the return of customers in bank branches. In mobile, our presence throughout is a huge asset, "said Jacques Rapoport.

Hopes in rural areas

And the band accelerates: already in 1000 the largest post offices, the mobile will be distributed in 450 additional offices on 12 September and another 450 in November. It will even be sold in 70 small rural offices in September, they will not physically products, but customers can order and be delivered the next day by Chronopost. While the offices of small towns have sold more mobile than those in larger cities, La Poste Mobile high hopes on rural areas. "At the end 2012, 10,000 post offices will distribute the mobile offering.By itself, the Post will have more outlets that Orange, SFR and Bouygues together, "said Jacques Rapoport. The mobile station will also develop synergies with La Banque Postale, in line with the special youth launched in late August that offers a discount of 40 euros on the price of the mobile.

The mobile station should be profitable in 2013. Both shareholders and SFR Post rub their hands.

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Operation must! The government will this week attempt to convince the financial markets on its ability to control public finances. François Fillon unveiled late Wednesday afternoon in the presence of Baroin and Valerie Pécresse, the Ministers of Economy and Budget, the new conservation measures for France to retain investor confidence and its " AAA. "

The government enters the final stretch trade-offs. François Fillon and Nicolas Sarkozy meet to sort the list of suggestions made last week by Bercy (and amended by the relevant ministries) and begin to remove some tracks.Then the president and prime minister Wednesday to finalize the measures to adopt.

The government did not release the extent of the plan, but it evokes an effort between 5 and 10 billion, and a trend towards the top. The turn of the screw will break down between savings on public spending and further cuts in tax and social niches.

On this last point, the government does not start from scratch. The measures that were passed in the fall (tax on marriages, on the solar panels, niches plane, etc.). Will yield 2.4 billion in 2012. But we'll have to do much more. There is another month, the government did not request such an effort to households and businesses. He planned to take samples of only 3 billion. With 2.4 billion already in the pipeline, the step to take was minimal.But since the degradation of "AAA" rating from the United States, France finds itself under pressure from the markets. Even if it borrows at low levels (2.74% at ten years), a sign of confidence that it continues to generate, France must do everything to protect his note. For if it were lowered, the state should borrow at higher rates. According to the Court of Auditors, an increase of one point would increase the debt burden of $ 2 billion the first year. To prevent a runaway cost of debt, the government should not deviate from its route.

Increase in the social package

Paris has pledged to reduce its public deficit to 5.7% of GDP in 2011 and 4.6% in 2012. This objective was particularly complicated since the Insee reported zero growth in the second quarter. Bercy forecasts an increase of 2% of GDP in 2011 and 2.25% in 2012 now seem too optimistic.On average, economists expect now on a 1.4% growth next year. However, less growth means less tax revenue and more spending for the state, the social security and local authorities. Without necessarily announcing Wednesday a revised its growth forecasts, the government is obliged, if he wants to keep its deficit targets, to take austerity measures …

Increase in the social package for businesses, new plane and lower overall ceiling of niches, penknife devices ultramarine and real estate … the tracks are not lacking. The government also provides measures for the social security system, not to mention taxing very high incomes as suggested on Wednesday, Maurice Levy, president of Publicis and the Association of Private Enterprises (Afep), in an article in Le Monde ."We need efforts that will be requested to the French are fairly distributed," assured the same day Valerie Pécresse on Europe 1. The measures adopted will be included in budget 2012.

France can she get into the spiral of Greece, where budget cuts exacerbate the recession, which in turn widens the gap? A priori not. This year, increases in taxes, resulting from the measures passed in the fall, reached $ 12 billion. Without destabilizing the country.

Real estate: the cropped Scellier

Before the crisis, Bercy was considering reducing benefits. The pressure is greatest.

• Law Scellier

The niche Scellier reduces its tax by investing in rental real estate. It was expected that the tax reduction equal to 22% of the investment in 2011 reaches 18% in 2012.The reduction could fall to 15%.

• Ready to zero +

There are plans to reintroduce a means test for the loan (PTZ), in order to focus on vulnerable households.

• Capital gains on real estate

The capital gain on the sale of a principal residence will remain tax exempt. For other assets, the gain is taxed at 19%, plus 12.3% social. However, there is a reduction (10% per year after five years in prison) that applies to the capital gain and will disappear for undeveloped land for building. It is also the question of decline (eg 5%) for other goods.Another track: the system of reduction of the gain disappears for the payment of social security contributions.

Niches: plane and down the ceiling

The tax loopholes will undergo a new movement of the plane after the last year which affected 22 devices (Scellier, actions overseas, the tax credit for environmental equipment in the house). The rate of tax reduction was reduced by 10%: a rate of 50% was increased to 45%, a rate of 25% to 22% … The measure, however, has yet to be felt, because the first plane applies to the income tax paid in 2012, sitting on the revenues of 2011. The government planned to meet the plane in 2011 (eg 15%) and pass a new tax on plane sitting on the revenues of 2012.
Widely used devices, such as overseas benefits or tax credits for equipment of the house will still be trimmed.MPs want all the niches are planed. Others will disappear. In addition, the overall ceiling of niches, set at 6% of income over 18,000 euros, will be lowered.

Companies: rising social package

Social package, paid by companies on the profit-sharing and employee savings, should be increased from 6% to 8%. Expected gain: 400 million euros. Since its inception in 2009, the government increased the fee by 2 points every year! Systems loss carry-on prior and subsequent, which limit the corporate tax should be reduced. They benefit primarily to large companies but the government wants to rebalance the tax burden with the small. The carry-back would
limited to one year. And to carry forward losses from the profits would be capped.In Germany, the losses charged can not exceed 60% of the profit. However, the idea of ​​limiting the deductibility of loan interest is difficult to implement.

Tax on very wealthy households

The government pledged in the spring to tax high incomes, and a working group must report its findings in the fall. Two tracks are at this stage on the table to non-deductible from corporate income tax payments "extravagant" or create a new tax paid by very wealthy households. The latter option holds the rope in the government because it has the support of parliamentarians. Gilles Carrez, the rapporteur of the budget UMP
in the Assembly, propose to tax at a rate of 1% or 2% revenues exceeding one million euros per year. But Peter wants Méhaignerie the new tax applies from 150,000 euros to 200,000 euros in annual income for a couple.The lively debates ahead!

Other tracks: capital gains on the hot seat

Gilles Carrez wants the taxation of life insurance is carried over the water each year on their earnings potential, while households are now taxed when withdrawn at a variable rate depending on the length of detention ( 7.5% after eight years). Another idea: adjust the taxation of life insurance, whether it is placed in shares or products without risk. The UMP Jérôme Chartier wants to create an additional ceiling on tax loopholes, reducing to 50% of tax due from the advantage of niches. But Bercy is not favorable. Finally, many parliamentarians call for the removal of reliefs on capital gains from stocks and bonds (third year in excess of five years from 2012).