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Thinking Allowed: French culture - Network Nudge

01/09/2010

French culture - Network Nudge

BBC Radio 4 - Thinking Allowed, French culture - Network Nudge

Laurie explores the decline in French culture and the power of networks.

Laurie Taylor asks if French culture continues to have a global impact. Also, how can policy makers harness the power of networks to influence people's behaviour?

Has French culture become provincial and inward looking? France aspires to be a global cultural power. But a new book - 'The Death of French Culture' - argues that its government creates a walled garden producing cinema and literature for its own market but not for the world. Gone are the days of geniuses like Emile Zola and Francois Truffaut who spoke to millions. Laurie Taylor is joined by the book's author Donald Morrison and by Noelle Lenoir, a former French minister for European affairs. They consider whether protectionism has caused a decline in French creativity and if state subsidies produce mediocre art. Also, the economist Paul Ormerod highlights the power of networks to change behaviour. Could an understanding of how our connections influence our choices help tackle everything from obesity to unemployment?

Producer: Jayne Egerton.

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