Problems of formation of digital economy in France

The investment policy of modern France is aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability, building a knowledge society, improving competitiveness through innovation, and construction of the state of the digital era. Transition to a digital economy is not a fait accompli in any country in the world. A group of leading countries has formed, which are accelerating the transition to a new technological structure. Building a digital economy requires tremendous investments that need to be sought in the face of a total lack of financial resources due to the global economic shocks of 2008–2009 and 2014–2015. Study of peculiarities of transformation of the economy, emergence of new threats that cause economic shocks and social explosions in the most developed countries, including France, is of great scientific and practical interest. The problem of weak growth of the French economy, lagging behind other European Union countries in gross domestic product growth is revealed. At the same time, the country's population is steadily increasing, resulting in lower living standards. A factor threatening France is rapid growth of public debt. Significant French investments in the economy of foreign countries with the need for huge investments within the country against the background of rising public debt confirm the opinion of some French economists about the loss of control over the country's largest national companies. Initially, the digital economy in France was predominantly driven by the development of the online sales segment. This was due to search for quick measures of economic recovery after the crisis of 2008–2009. As a result, a modern digital infrastructure was created, which should allow France to accelerate the formation of fundamentally new digital industries. Despite the partially multidirectional dynamics, the total annual investment in French economy is growing rapidly. In terms of investment in innovation, France is the second country in the European Union and one of the world leaders. The study revealed the facts indicating that France is successful in implementing measures for transition to digital economy. The study found the features of the policy of the French government to build a digital economy, to identify the key trends in socio-economic development of the country in the global recession, to form an understanding of the impact of investment on economic growth in France in transition to the digital economy. The results of the study expand knowledge about the role of investment in the transition of the national economy to the next technological stage.