Jean-Luc Boujon and Gauthier Delomez 3:30 p.m., December 30, 2021

On January 1, 2002, France and eleven other countries switched to the euro, a common European currency.

While some remember its difficult implementation, others point to the euro as the currency that drives up prices.

In "Europe Midi", the economist Christian de Boissieu concedes it, while qualifying. 

INTERVIEW

"They look like chocolate coins and Monopoly banknotes. There are still a lot of coins for the moment. Customers are like us, they are a little lost", admitted a Lyon bar owner at the microphone of Europe 1, January 1, 2002. On that day, France and eleven other countries switched to the euro, a common European currency.

Today adopted in 19 countries, this currency is regularly singled out for having raised prices, which the economist Christian de Boissieu concedes in the

Europe Midi program

.

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An inflationary effect "underestimated at the time"

"Yes, the euro has pushed up some prices and I think at the time, the inflationary effect was underestimated, including by INSEE", says the vice-president of the Circle of economists at the microphone by Thierry Dagiral. "The figures that had been published the first two years showed that it was relatively marginal, but there was an impact on inflation, and on perceived inflation (...). There were a certain number daily purchases (affected), such as coffee on the zinc ", explains Christian de Boissieu.

If we talk a lot about the price of the baguette, the economist warns about "comparisons over time. Prices 20 years ago, there was an inevitable inflationary effect. When we change currency, it There are always adjustments, "he underlines, indicating that if France" returned to the French franc, there would also be adjustments in the same direction. Each time we change the monetary unit, we have rising prices, "says Christian de Boissieu on Europe 1.

Lower prices for occasional purchases

“At the same time, prices have fallen,” reports the economist.

“It was prices for example in household appliances, due to the strengthening of competition. Because the euro meant an easier comparison of prices between the member countries of the euro (...). increased competition and lowered some prices, but purchase prices that we do not do every day, "says the vice-president of the Circle of economists.