Online game designed to teach the difficulties of economics

The French government is giving its citizens a chance to run the country by setting up a virtual internet game called Cyberbudget.

The idea of the game is to let people understand how difficult it is to balance the books when it comes to the economy of a whole country.

However, the French government did not say whether people's ideas would be saved and implemented as financial policy.

The idea comes at a time when France is facing financial crises over key services such as pensions and the health service.

"The French demand reform but gnash their teeth when it involves making economies," said French government minister Jean-François Cope as he announced the game on national television.

The game launches in May and can be played by 10,000 users at once.