What are some of France's weaknesses?
- Insufficient number of exporting companies, loss of competitiveness and market share.
- Weakening of the product range, insufficient innovation efforts.
- Low employment rate of young people and senior citizens.
- Room for improving the efficiency of public spending.
- High public debt.
- Growing private debt.
It is known worldwide for the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame cathedral, and the Eiffel tower. It has a reputation of being a romantic and cultural city. The city is also known for its high-quality gastronomy and the terraces of its cafés. Let's see in detail what Paris is famous for and what makes it so special.
- Making new friends. This is probably the case anywhere, especially if you arrive in a new city. ...
- The weather. ...
- Lack of Airconditioning. ...
- High Sales Taxes. ...
- The amount of time it takes to get a job and leave a job. ...
- Presenteeism in the WorkPlace. ...
- Strikes all the time. ...
- France is closed on Sunday.
Nowhere is the problem graver than in Paris. Urban homelessness rates, excluding the capital, grew by 11% in the same 11-year period mentioned above. In Paris, the increase was a staggering 84%. While exact figures are hard to come by, estimates put the number of rough sleepers in the capital at 30,000.
The Struggle to Survive (1780-90)
There was a sudden increase in the French population which led to rapid demand for food consumption. This started to cause food scarcity in society. The production amount of essential grains was comparatively less than the growing population required.
Due to the increase in population, the demand for food grains also increased. The price of all the commodities also increased. The wages of workers did not match with the rise in prices. The gap between the poor and rich widened and led to a subsistence crisis.
France's Dwindling Population
Fertility rates have also been faltering in France in recent years, reaching 1.83 in 2021. Nevertheless, the population (estimated at 67,813,000 inhabitants on January 1, 2022) is continuing to increase.
- High living costs.
- Old houses.
- High taxes.
- Complicated bureaucracy.
- Language barrier.
- Shortcoming of jobs.
- High housing tax.
- Too many strikes.
- + PRO: Plenty of choice. ...
- - CON: Older housing. ...
- - CON: Housing tax. ...
- + PRO: Slower pace of life. ...
- - CON: Bureaucracy. ...
- + PRO: Many paid holidays. ...
- + PRO: Accessible and convenient urban transportation. ...
- + PRO: Fresh food and great wine.
Unemployment is high and the government's finances are weak. "France's fundamental economic problem," the OECD says, "is a lack of growth." The latest figures for economic activity (gross domestic product or GDP) for the first quarter of the year show growth of 0.5%.
What is the number one killer in France?
PARIS: Crime in Paris is similar to that in most large cities. Violent crime is relatively uncommon in the city center, but women should exercise extra caution when out alone at night and should consider traveling out at night with trusted companions.

This is not surprising to see Paris listed as one of the most stress-inducing cities in France. This is news unlikely to surprise many people: Paris is listed as one of the most stressful cities in France.
Parisians are the ones who suffer most from tourism.
In addition to the overcrowding effect mentioned previously and the noise pollution that it can cause, the local population sees less and less other locals: many accommodations are transformed into Airbnbs for tourists or hotels and hostels.
The most common type of crime tourists in Paris might encounter is pickpocketing—I've written extensively about pickpockets in Europe if you want to learn more. In fact, Paris consistently ranks as one of the top five European cities for pickpocketing incidents.
Poverty in France has become central to its people, whose main concern is their purchasing power amidst rising inflation. In fact, France's inflation rate was 4.5% in March 2022.
This inequality is more obvious in the French city of Paris. Even though the overall poverty rate in the city of Paris is 14 percent, which is close to the national average, when you look at the underprivileged neighborhoods, the rate jumps to nearly 40 percent.
8.3 percent – the percentage of poor people in France, or more than 5 million people out of a population of 67 million. According to Luis Maurin, President and Director of the Observatory, France's poverty level is low compared to many other European countries.
The reason why France was considered to have maintained a healthy birth rate was down to its generous health and welfare system, relatively low childcare costs and high public spending on families.
Many people who move to France do so without being able to speak any French. Although it might be acceptable for certain professions, most expats will find that their having more fun as they pick up the language. Generally, people develop their language skills out of necessity.
Is life slower in France?
Life isn't necessarily slower in France. Many people thrive on being busy and defining themselves by their careers. There's nothing wrong with that. Certain people who move abroad aren't going to find themselves slowing down and appreciating life more.
France's main economic challenges in 2019 were to tackle its high rate of unemployment, increase competitiveness, and combat sluggish growth.
Hit hard by soaring energy prices and the cost of living crisis, France's GDP fell 0.2% in the third quarter of 2022. There is a similarly bleak picture across Europe, with several leading economies taking a hit.
Throughout the 18th century, France faced a mounting economic crisis. A rapidly growing population had outpaced the food supply. A severe winter in 1788 resulted in famine and widespread starvation in the countryside. Rising prices in Paris brought bread riots.
The largest Paris racial/ethnic groups are White (86.1%) followed by Hispanic (11.4%) and American Indian (2.5%).
The national statistics office credited Paris's population drop to several causes: lower birthrates and second homes, to be sure, but also an increase in deaths, and higher living costs that are leading young people to settle down outside the city.
High unemployment in France has persisted despite the fact that in recent years France's macroeconomic performance has compared favorably with the other major industrial or EU countries in other respects.
Cost of Living in France vs USA
Almost everything you buy in France is more expensive than the USA. There are a few cheaper things such as bread or wine, but even those are similar in price. Rent is the largest expense for most expats and natives alike, especially if you choose to live in a place like Paris.
They are fleeing conflict, violence, persecution, discrimination or, increasingly, climate-related pressures. Their journey to safety is commonly dangerous, life-threatening and often traumatising. They want to find a place of safety where they can rebuild their lives. They have a protected right to do so.
For any stay in France exceeding 90 days, you are required to apply in advance for a long-stay vis. In this instance your nationality does not exempt you from requirements. Whatever the duration of your planned stay, the duration of your long-stay visa must be between three months and one year.
What's it like living in France as an American?
Some perks to living in France as an American include access to stellar healthcare, proximity to other European countries, and stunning landscapes. The climate, (especially in the south), and walkability in many cities and towns are a couple more reasons why Americans have decided to make France their home.
For example, the cost of living in Paris is high, and you'll need around €3,400 per month to live comfortably.
France runs a statutory health insurance (SHI) system providing universal coverage for its residents. The system is financed through employee and employer contributions, and increasingly by earmarked taxes on a broad range of revenues.
The causes of the French Revolution can be narrowed to five main factors: the Estate System, absolutism, Enlightenment ideas, food shortages, and the American Revolution.
France has a mixed economic system which includes a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. France is a member of the European Union (EU).
...
France Poverty Rate 1978-2023.
France Poverty Rate - Historical Data | ||
---|---|---|
Year | % Under US $5.50 Per Day | Change |
2018 | 0.10% | 0.00% |
2017 | 0.10% | -0.10% |
2016 | 0.20% | -0.10% |
Samuel Little (born Samuel McDowell; June 7, 1940 – December 30, 2020) was an American serial killer who confessed to murdering 93 women between 1970 and 2005.
The most prolific modern serial killer is arguably Dr. Harold Shipman, with 218 probable murders and possibly as many as 250 (see "Medical professionals", below).
Heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This is the case in the U.S. and worldwide. More than half of all people who die due to heart disease are men. Medical professionals use the term heart disease to describe several conditions.
In 1990, the average French person was twice as likely to die as an American for every mile traveled, but today the average French person is 40% safer than the average American.
Is Paris safe for Americans?
Yet in the absolute, Paris remains a safe destination, and with some precautions in mind all visitors should feel comfortable traveling to the capital. Read on for the latest information on travel advisories and precautions to take when visiting France, and for my full safety tips for anyone planning a trip to Paris.
While Paris for many is the city of intellectualism, chic style, and world-class cuisine, the fact remains that at its historical heart, on a slip of land in the Seine, is Notre-Dame Cathedral. The French revere its twin French Gothic towers as much as the Arc de Triomphe or Bordeaux wine.
- 'Paris' is not the city's original name.
- Île de la Cité is the birthplace of Paris.
- Roman ruins still exist in Paris.
- Pont Neuf doesn't mean “Bridge Nine”
- The Storming of Bastille was a symbolic act.
Paris syndrome (French: syndrome de Paris; Japanese: パリ症候群, romanized: Pari shōkōgun) is a sense of extreme disappointment exhibited by some individuals when visiting Paris, who feel that the city was not what they had expected. The condition is commonly viewed as a severe form of culture shock.
Life in Paris is romantic, and exciting, but it is also expensive. Daily amenities, and housing carry a heavy price tag in France's most populous city. Around 2.2 million people spread out across 20 arrondissements (municipal districts) live here.
The 16th arrondissement is one of the most popular neighbourhoods for expat families thanks to it's safe streets and green areas. There are also a whole host of international schools here which make educating international children much easier.
Visa and Work Permits
Expats looking to live and work in Paris will have to apply for a visa de long séjour (long-term visa). To obtain that visa, as well as the requirements, and documents you will need to provide depend on your reason for moving to Paris.
Rank | City, Country | Cleanliness & Tidiness of City /100 |
---|---|---|
1 | Cairo, Egypt | 17.22 |
2 | Delhi, India | 28.78 |
3 | Karachi, Pakistan | 20.26 |
4 | Mumbai, India | 24.38 |
References
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