French economic growth unexpectedly stagnated in the third quarter with no increase in gross domestic product. It is bad news for Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's government heading into next year's presidential elections and undermines the growth predictions of Finance Minister Thierry Breton. He said the figures were not good, but he remains optimistic. The sharp slowdown is in contrast to the strong growth of 1.2% between April and June. Breton's ministry had forecast full-year growth of around 2.3%. French industrial production was down by 0.1% during the third quarter but it fell by 0.9% in September. Other figures from the French national statistics office Insee underscored the fact that consumer spending, rather than trade or industrial output, has been the main driving force for growth in the country. The latest data cast doubt on the strength of European expansion and will dampen speculation about further interest rate increases next year by the European Central Bank. http://www.euronews.net/create_html.php?page=accueil_eco&article=390153&lng=1 ____________________ What is the cause to their abnormal low growth?
I think that they havn't adjusted their economy enough to handle the globalisation. Therefore, unemployment goes high and riots occour freequently. People simply have no trust in their government in times when the growth are low.
It goes to say that no economy can depend on local consumption as the only way to keep the economy up. Jobs may exist, and it's not neligible, but economy must produce, and compete with global standards. In America, we don't talk much about how much it takes to start a business....and in France, I'm sure it's that much harder. France needs to leave old-europe behind, and realize that competition means you have no-guaranteed jobs for life, and that businesses need a reasonable avenue to flourish. That may mean a lot of things, but (it seems) France's culture is just not ready for that. Eventually they'll get it. Everything takes time. Like America's shift to the democrats (for what I think is just pure change...not of pure idealogy), it might involve big shifts in governement. I'm not sure how people are represented there. Any French people on board?
hi, yes we are ! you're right in your analysis but you forget something : our suicidal social system. Do you know a country where the employee works 35 hours a day ? with a lot a ferial days no worked and payed however ? with retirement when 60 years old and sometimes 50 or 52 years for some jobs which were painful a lot of years ago but no longer now (like train drivers). Do you know a country where at trial the boss is always wrong and the employee always right ? What's the result ? Earning money is extremly difficult today in France. And when a firm can't earn money, it doesn't create jobs. Because there are less jobs, people can't be employed and so on. it's an infernal spiral. and it's impossible for the politics to correct this state of mind because there are sure to lose elections if they dare say the truth to people who don't want to ear it.
Thanks for your illuminating view. I thought something like this was happening, but didn't know the dirty details. Sounds rather dire. Apparently you've got your opinions and thoughts on this. I commend you for not following the pack on this, and I sincerly hope France becomes a better country for you. What kind of government do you have...two party, proportional or other? How much of a lead does the above ^^^ ideaology have in controlling your gov? Do you think there are cultures growing in rational opposition to this form of government?
Imagine that, growth in a socialist state(Not saying that the US isn't one) has slowed due to a lack of risk taking incentive. Up with free-market!
Uh, math20 - not sure what pool you've been dipping into to derive your well-documented research and deeply thoughtful post, but I am an American, who busts his ass to make a living for his family. And presuming carticasi is French, by asking him where he lived, I uh, was asking where he lived. My use of French apparently frightened you. Je m'excuse.
I'm generally pissed off at France and by asking him where he lived I thought you meant that his negative post about French economic policy was false. Sorry if that's not what you meant.
I'll be honest - I couldn't care less what you thought I meant. The question wasn't directed to you. However, for the sake of clarifying the already ridiculously simple, I meant what I wrote - Where do you live, means, uh, where do you live? As in, "I'm curious, where do you live." How your anger can so trace a misguided conclusion from a simple question speaks volumes. You might want to do a bit more reflection before royally stepping in it next time. Additionally, please direct your "really pissed off at the French" anger to the French soldiers of the 6th Light Armored Division who fought alongside our 82nd during Desert Storm. I'm sure they'd love to exchange "lazy entitlement minded" pleasantries.
Just sarcasm.... Thats all. With all the talk of Eurabia and how America is so "hated". I think the French hold the most contempt for the U.S. Of all Europe, France is more or less my least favorite place, so I was just being sarcastic. Not sure if this post makes sense to you.
Well, that was kinda waste of time message for the rest of us. Please keep such personal talk in PMs Anyway, the downward trend is not likely to stop..
You mean like: A spat with Crazy Rob: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=1673218&postcount=109 Or, for a thread on Donald Rumsfeld: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=1667550&postcount=95: A question on socialism, communism: Or, an unrelated spat with AGS on a thread about online gambling: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=1598198&postcount=80 Or, another one-on-one spat with AGS -and on and on. If it's OK with you, Latehorn, please report my post to mods if you have a problem. This is an open discussion forum. My question to carticasi is directly related to this thread, and, as with Math20, really not your concern. Additionally, someone posts a mistruth, particularly a blatantly insulting one, it will be clarified.
Well, no, it doesn't make sense to me, but that's OK - we just have a different opinion and each to their own. I am a chef in the French tradition, and happen to love French culture and history. Despite the current vogue, I believe France is a helluva country. Though I guessed your meaning, I wasn't certain as to what you meant by saying that France as a country no longer existed, hence the question.
keyword: 'such' I don't want to destroy my own thread but to clarifie a few things up.. [/QUOTE] I don't really think that the comment was unrelevant and disturbing. The answer was fitted Crazy_Robs comment. A very subject relevant rhetorical question that the majority on this forum could read and understand. A well educating post, mayby not really on poker, but hopefully it ended some black and white thinking. So it had a good porpuse. Those are the nasty kick-ass posts.. It was relevant however.. and the alternative 9/11-theories fell one after one, so I think I made a good summary on AGS:s theory by that posts. I still like AGS, even tough we see the reality so differently. ______________________________ You might wonder why I and math20 reacted because of your post. That's because it was in french, that might have fitted in the Welcome section, but not here. The majority want to know what you are talking about. And if you don't like publicity, then the PM feature is a great tool. And if you want to develop the issue further.. just PM me.
Latehorn, every single one of your posts linked to above were personal in nature, and/or off-topic, as you acknowledge. Math20 made an unwarranted attack in the way of personal insult, and I called him on it. I'd suggest you get over it. I will not debate you over what I believe are errors in your thinking, but the bottom line, however you seek to construe things, is that I have not insulted you, and you are not a moderator. Respectfully, I'd recommend you stick to posting. If you have a problem with my post(s), report it or them, and allow mods to do their job. I did - prior to posting my comments. And, absent a personal attack or insult, I said the same thing there - if you have an issue with my, or anyone's post, you may want to refer it to a mod.