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Today, however, Europe is talking about “the French question”: can the Socialist government of President François Hollande pull France out of its slow decline and prevent it from slipping permanently into Europe’s second tier?
At stake is whether a social democratic system that for decades prided itself on being the model for providing a stable and high standard of living for its citizens can survive the combination of globalization, an aging population and the acute fiscal shocks of recent years.
Those close to Mr. Hollande say that he is largely aware of what must be done to cut government spending and reduce regulations weighing down the economy, and is carefully gauging the political winds. But what appears to be missing is the will; France’s friends, Germany in particular, fear that Mr. Hollande may simply lack the political courage to confront his allies and make the necessary decisions.
Changing any country is difficult. But the challenge in France seems especially hard, in part because of the nation’s amour-propre and self-image as a European leader and global power, and in part because French life is so comfortable for many and the day of reckoning still seems far enough away, especially to the country’s small but powerful unions.
Problem with France is the weight of it's own policies are killing it, same path as Greece. You can't have people working 35 hr work weeks and have all of the incredible benefits, and yet try and compete on the world stage........
IDK... I'm sort of jealous of the whole European model of benefits/vacations etc etc... but I sometimes wonder if it is sustainable?????
Problem with France is the weight of it's own policies are killing it, same path as Greece. You can't have people working 35 hr work weeks and have all of the incredible benefits, and yet try and compete on the world stage........
IDK... I'm sort of jealous of the whole European model of benefits/vacations etc etc... but I sometimes wonder if it is sustainable?????
France and Greece are also very difficult to do business in. Even starting a barbershop is tough and then you have the hiring aspect. It's almost as if they don't want entrepreneurs.
Problem with France is the weight of it's own policies are killing it, same path as Greece. You can't have people working 35 hr work weeks and have all of the incredible benefits, and yet try and compete on the world stage........
IDK... I'm sort of jealous of the whole European model of benefits/vacations etc etc... but I sometimes wonder if it is sustainable?????
Yeah, well I don't think that is acceptable either, but since this thread was about France I figured I'd keep it relatively contained to France, except the Greece reference.
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