Dirigisme, or dirigism, refers to an economic system in which the state takes an active and directive role in shaping and guiding the economy, rather than limiting itself to a purely regulatory or hands-off approach within a market economy. As an economic doctrine, dirigisme stands in contrast to laissez-faire, highlighting the constructive role of market intervention in addressing inefficiencies and market failures. Dirigiste policies typically include indicative planning, state-guided investment, and the strategic use of market instruments such as taxes and subsidies to encourage economic actors to align with national development goals. Dirigisme is not synonymous with a state-controlled command economy but a market economy and big public sector is required for dirigisme; hence the public sector becomes an instrument for altering the market.