Steve Kates wrote: "Hollande, who is a first rate economist, went into  
government as a Keynesian but a Keynesian he no longer is. Why anyone  
else still is remains the central question in economic theory today."

Hollande "a first rate economist"? "a Keynesian he no longer is"?

Steve should stop talking about French politics. These comments are  
nothing but a profound misrepresentation and they are laughable. No  
disrespect to the president but this is news to me that he is a first  
rate economist. Based on what? He was trained in law, taught economics  
but I have no knowledge of a publication record of any sort. I would  
be happy to see references of peer-reviewed articles for instance. A  
politician, he definitely is.
As for the assertion that he is no longer a keynesian, this is false.  
One should carefully review the current economic policy: level of  
public spending, welfare policy, etc... There is absolutely no  
concrete evidence to back up Steve's claim. Moreover, as Alain  
Alcouffe previously noted, Steve's translation of F. Hollande's words  
was not totally accurate.

For anyone who carefully follows French politics, Hollande's statement  
should be contextualized. There are upcoming municipal elections in  
March and european elections in May. The polls are not encouraging for  
the Parti Socialiste and its allies. Furthermore, the president is  
very unpopular. The president clearly tried to flirt with voters from  
the other side and the business community. And I shall add that this  
is routine for French presidents. Midterm elections are usually bad  
for their party (and allies) and those years they do not hesitate to  
appeal to the other side in their speeches. I recall Chirac and  
Sarkozy using the same tactics (appealing to the left I mean).

Are antikeynesians so desperate that they have to resort to that kind  
of clumsy remarks? Anyway, those who want to continue their  
antikeynesian rant are free to do so but please, leave French politics  
aside. Or, at least, provide a true depiction of facts and claims.

Guy Numa