France's slow approach to industrialization has resulted in a lack of competitiveness and brain drain. The podcast discusses the need for France to reshape its economy to stay internationally competitive. It explores the impact of government intervention and state-owned enterprises on efficiency and output. France's economic challenges include generous retirement conditions and an aging population.
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Quick takeaways
France's slow approach to industrialization and strong protection for workers' rights have made it uncompetitive and led to brain drain.
France's decentralized approach and dirigisme policies have ensured better working conditions but hindered productivity and global competitiveness.
Deep dives
Slow and steady industrialization favored small artisanal industries over large factories
France embraced the Industrial Revolution differently than its European counterparts, taking a slower and more gradual approach. This led to the development of a predominantly small artisanal industry instead of large-scale factories. Factors such as political instability, regional wars, and the exodus of skilled workers affected France's industrial progress.
French workers maintained power and influence due to many small companies driving industry
The dominance of small artisanal industries in France's economy allowed workers to have more power and influence over their employers compared to workers in other industrialized nations. This decentralized approach, where no single company could become a monopoly, contributed to a more egalitarian culture. While this ensured better working conditions for French workers, it also led to slightly lower productivity and wages compared to countries like Germany and the USA.
Government involvement in the economy resulted in state enterprises and higher inflation
France's economic policies, known as dirigisme, involved significant government intervention and the establishment of state enterprises. While this allowed the government to provide essential services and promote specific industries, it also led to higher inflation and inefficiencies. State-owned enterprises tended to prioritize employment and public goods over profit, which affected productivity. France faces challenges in maintaining its high living standards and worker protections while remaining globally competitive and attracting skilled workers.
France's problems arguably go back 200 years to their slow and steady approach to adopting industrialisation. While many other countries can learn from France's strong protection for workers' rights, at the moment this has made France a very uncompetitive country with some of the worst brain drain across the EU. Why work in France for lower wages when they can make so much more in the UK, Germany and the US. Is France stuck at just being the place with fancy handbags and perfumes, or can it change it's economy to stay internationally competitive?