No question that there is paternalistic quality to those who govern France, and it doesn’t always serve them well. But the country has also been remarkably successful at leveraging its position in Europe, punching above its weight in international affairs, not gutting its industry (like the U.K. and the U.S.) and promoting its culture (its film industry remains one of the most vibrant outside Hollywood) and way of life (why get rid of the good stuff?). Its population is highly educated, universities are accessible from a financial vantage point, and they eat better produce than most countries. On top of it Paris is a supremely well-run metropolis with fantastic infrastructure. More flexible labour laws might help — then again they certainly haven’t produced real wage increases in Canada, the U.S. and Britain. So can you really blame the French for fighting to protect their gains?
Ryan
France is the best country on earth, if:
1) you aspire to have a modest career, possibly as a state employee, with a light workload and tons of leisure time
2) you are born into the elite class
3) you are a tourist
Truly, I think France is second to none in terms of lifestyle. I can understand why the French people want to hold on to the notion that things can go on the way there were before, but unfortunately that won’t happen.
Companies and bright entrepreneurs will continue to move outside of France as long as the government props up the broken social system with uncompetitive labor laws and uber-high social taxes. Unfortunately, much of the population (blaming evil corporations and “unfair” foreign competitors for just about anything) fail to grasp simple economics. Chasing away companies and entrepreneurs results in less investment inside the country, which in turn means less output & less output means fewer jobs, lower wages & less taxes. Less tax revenue means no basis for fat pensions & other social goodies that French people feel entitled to.
I think something will break eventually… and the longer it takes, the more painful it will be. Change is difficult, and sadly it seems that no French politician has the nerve to push through tough reform. Oh, but I do agree that countries should coddle their uncompetitive industries. Why let farmers in developing countries earn a meagre living when France can redistribute enough wealth to keep a massive agriculture sector alive within its own boarders. In fact, I wish I was in the US right now working on a farm or on a production line…. I hate advancement. If only my ancestors would have made more strikes.