The share of the French who consider work very important dropped from 60% in 1990 to just 24% in 2021. By last year only 40% of the French said that they prefer to earn more and have less free time. So if this is such a touchy issue then for the country as a whole why is Mr Macron poking at it so hard? Well his main objective is to put the pension system back on to a sound financial footing.
Nicola Sturgeon is bowing out after shaping a party that has defined itself on the notion of Scottish independence. What now for Scotland and for Britain more broadly? Our correspondent says that France’s protests against pension reform are about far more than the stereotype of being workshy. And the surprising information spies could gather from your home’s Wi-Fi router.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer