France  

French workers benefit from access to an extremely high level of physical capital, including offices and productive machinery, placing France ninth on this variable. Furthermore, the unemployment rate is moderate at 9%, and the inflation rate is low, at 2%. France’s domestic savings rate is near the global average, at 20% of GDP, while at 27% of GDP, household expenditure is strong, pointing towards high consumer confidence and a large domestic market. Relatively low interest margins of 2.4 percentage points and moderate default rates of 2.7% indicate healthy levels of competition and efficiency in the financial sector. France’s raw material export concentration is very low and terms of trade with partners remain moderate. Furthermore, foreign direct investment as a percentage of GDP is 6%, which positions France above the global average with respect to this variable.

The barriers to entry in terms of the number of procedures required to start a business are low at seven procedures and the number of new businesses registered in 2007 was approximately 137,000, putting France ninth, worldwide, on this variable. Value added in service industries is high and the country ranks second on this variable. Furthermore, France has a well-developed internet infrastructure with a very high bandwidth and high numbers of secure servers, placing this country in the top 25 in both variables. The French population can also take advantage of the internet infrastructure due to a strong level of access to personal computers at 65 per 100 people. ICT exports, as a share of exported goods, are only 8%, while high-tech exports are 21%, placing France in 24th and 18th place, respectively. The French have a low rate of R&D expenditure, at 1.6% of GDP. Nevertheless, France is highly successful in commercialising innovation, as illustrated by the amount of royalty receipts, ranking France fourth on this variable.

French citizens enjoy full political and civil rights, enabling participation in political processes and expression of their beliefs. Furthermore, the country has high levels of open political competition between rival parties and open, well-regulated electoral processes for executive election. In addition, France’s political system is characterised by strong checks and balances, preventing rash or arbitrary actions by political leaders. France also benefits from competition among political parties in the legislative branch, as well as a highly independent judiciary. The stability of the political system is ranked 32nd internationally, as the last regime change occurred less than 50 years ago.

The primary enrolment rate in France is extremely high at 99%, while similarly the secondary enrolment rate is the seventh highest, worldwide. While there is perfect equality in gender enrolment ratios, classroom sizes are moderate with 19 students per teacher. Tertiary enrolment rates are the 29th highest, worldwide, and France’s workforce is well educated with very high average years of secondary and tertiary education, ranking the country 12th and 29th, respectively, on these variables. Educational expenditure at primary and secondary levels exceeds $10,000 per student and ranks the country 12th, internationally.

French citizens have high access to healthcare facilities with 34 doctors and 72 hospital beds per 10,000 people. Also, access to sanitation facilities is universal within France and a high 82% claim satisfaction with the quality of water.* Citizens’ health-adjusted life expectancy is 72 years, the eighth highest, worldwide, with the population experiencing very low rates of malnourishment and infant mortality. Overall 87% of French respondents are satisfied with their health, more than three out of five state they are well rested, and only 28% reported having experienced pain the previous day.*

The presence of social groups with a history of discrimination or other grievances represents a significant problem in France. Security problems related to refugees and internally displaced individuals, human flight, and state-sponsored violence in the form of detention or torture are more minimal. However, France has not suffered any casualties due to civil or ethnic war in 2008 and the homicide rate is low, with just over one victim per 100,000 persons. Only 12% of respondents have had property stolen, but a relatively high 6% were assaulted or mugged in 2008, ranking France 54th on this latter variable.* However, most French citizens are not worried about personal safety, with three out of four feeling safe to walk alone at nights.*

France ranks within the top 20 with respect to the enforcement of the rule of law, the quality of regulation of economic and commercial activity, and the effectiveness of governance. In France, laws are universally enforced and inefficiencies due to bureaucracy are minimal. Confidence in the military among the French is high at 84%, ranking the country 27th, worldwide.* In addition, French citizens have the ability to change the laws and officials that govern them – with 63% of respondents believing in the honesty of the elections and approximately 55% of respondents showing confidence in the judiciary system.* However, 72% perceive the government to be corrupt and 65% believe local businesses are corrupt.*

French citizens have unconstrained freedom to practise their religious beliefs, speak freely without fear of government censorship, and travel freely within and out of their own country. Citizens report high satisfaction with this level of freedom.* French citizens are also quite tolerant. Approximately 74% of respondents agree that France is a good place to live for ethnic minorities and tolerance for immigrants is similarly high at 76%.*

In France only 19% of individuals believe that others can be trusted.* However, most respondents believe that friends are important to them and 94% believe they can rely on family and friends in times of need.* Group membership is low among the French: only 10% of respondents are members of a religious institution, 18% are arts organisation members, 14% are affiliated with environmental groups, while sports club membership is comparatively higher.* More than four out of 10 individuals donate to charities, 28% volunteer their time, and one out of three individuals claim to have helped strangers.*

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

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