21 - The rise and fall of central planning

Summary

In times of war or peace, whether aiming for victory or for prosperity, economic planning was more likely to expand the range of political conflict rather than reduce it. The actual experience of planning during the Second World War offered continual challenges to the resilient planning euphoria. The exigencies of war brought some of the common aspects of national economic planning into clear relief. In spite of the combatants' vast differences in political organization and ideology, wartime economic policy placed a high rhetorical premium on central planning. The new Commissariat general du Plan announced its first 'indicative' plan under the name, 'Plan de modernization et d'Equipement'. Covering the period until 1950, it had two quite specific aims: first, to ensure access to German raw materials, and second, to increase the competitiveness of French industry in international markets. It also became the chief conduit of information and funds for US Marshall Plan support for France.