Interview with Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, conducted by Geneviève Van Lède on 5 July 2023

7 July 2023

How would you rank the Rencontres économiques d`Aix-en-Provence on the international stage − as the Provence version of Davos?

I would describe it as an important meeting place for stimulating discussions on economic issues, similar to the forum on central banking hosted by the European Central Bank in Sintra, Portugal, every year for the last ten years, or its US equivalent in Jackson Hole. You mentioned Davos, but I think Davos is less exclusively focused on economic topics, which is hardly surprising given that this event in Aix-en-Provence is organised by the Cercle des économistes think tank.

What impact do the Rencontres have on the region?

You spoke of Davos to refer to the World Economic Forum. While the name of the Forum is well-known, it’s perhaps more often referred to by the name of the Swiss resort Davos. Locations are significant, just as…