France - A country heading into the future with a blindfold?

The current edition of the Economist has a cracking cover(pictured left) and also provide an insightful piece into the French government's attempts to reform its employment laws.

Last week 1 to 3 million demonstrated against the government's attempts to combat mass unemployment by encouraging employers to give under 26 a job by giving them flexible redundancy provisions.    

Let me briefly cover the issues:

1 According to the Economist, in a new poll whereas 71% of Americans, 66% of the British and 65% of Germans agreed that the free market was the best system of all, only 36% of the French believed this   

2 The Economist also cites that in one poll 3/4 of young French people would like to be a civil servant, mostly because it would mean a "job for life."   

3 From my perspective, France is one of the most conservative countries in the world. My French wife and I frequently remark on how there is such a lack of change with the French culture and politics. For example, you seem to see the same politicans and entertainers over such a long period of time.

4 On the face of it, it would appear to be a country dealing with globalisation by trying to ignore it. But there is a sting in the tail. France is not facing the same shortage of workers which other countries are facing due to declining births, so France may emerge not so poorly placed after all in the long run.