With its reputation for cultural preservation, Paris has the title of
the most visited city in the world. In addition to its tourist economy,
it also boasts growing technology, media, finance and research-centred
industries, which have contributed to its global economic influence.
Christian Lefevre, one of France's leading political scientists,
analyses the social and economic forces that have shaped Paris and which
have differentiated it from other long-time megacities such as London
and New York. He considers how the loss of jobs in industry in the 1970s
and 1980s has inspired a post-Fordist shift to service and information
sectors, yet concerns over social issues such as equality, environmental
impact and adequate services have given rise to a French ambivalence
towards promoting the city as a global economic competitor. The book
examines the central role France's national government has played in
shaping policies affecting the city and explores how the shift towards
political decentralization and localism have contributed to a system
increasingly incapable of taking collective action, giving rise to
tensions concerning social issues, such as housing.
The book is an authoritative analysis of Paris's position, both globally
and nationally, and the challenges that face its governance.
