‘Art is Equal to Other Investments’

I have enjoyed a lifelong love affair with France and the French – and not just “the good life” of France but the politics, the inherent contradictions prevalent throughout French society, its predictably predictable ego swelling up at the most (to an American) ridiculous moments. Here is a perfect example of a realm where I believe France and her people put us to shame. To me this is not about systems of governance but rather societal priorities. And the most important element of all – willingness to put one’s wallet in line with one’s mouth and heart.

This is authentic behavior, something I feel I talk about a lot in work discussions (how to create authentic relationships with fans and customers) and very rarely feel like I have real world examples to use as benchmarks.

Besides Fontainebleau, about 50 French chateaus are to receive a facelift, including the palace of Versailles. Also receiving funds are some 75 cathedrals like Notre Dame in Paris. A museum devoted to Lalique glass is being created in Strasbourg, while Marseilles is to be the home of a new 10 million euro center for Mediterranean culture.

All told, Paris has set aside 100 million euros in stimulus funds earmarked for what the French like to call their cultural patrimony. It is a French twist on how to overcome the global downturn, spending borrowed money avidly to beautify the nation even as it also races ahead of the United States in more classic Keynesian ways: fixing potholes, upgrading railroads and pursuing other “shovel ready” projects.

“America is six months behind; it has wasted a lot of time,” said Patrick Devedjian, the minister in charge of the French relance, or stimulus. By the time Washington gets around to doling out most of its money, Mr. Devedjian sniffed, “the crisis could be over.”

Gallic pride aside, Mr. Devedjian has a point. While he plans to spend 75 percent of France’s stimulus money this year, the White House is giving itself until fall 2010 to lay out that big a share of the American expenditure. And many experts predict that Washington will fall short of that goal.

As it turns out, France’s more centralized, state-directed economy — so often criticized in good times for smothering entrepreneurship and holding back growth — is proving remarkably effective at deploying funds quickly and efficiently in bad times.