Is France doomed?

[eric]

[Clarino]

The Eurozone will have to collapse first.

This won't be allowed to happen quickly, it will beslow and massively painful.

As of yesterday the Eurozone is back in recession, and half the workforce is out on strike.

It is inevitable.

France will survive, but being so deeply involved in the Euro it's going to take one hell of a battering.

[Nico]

The French have the benefit of some excellent cultural traits, not unlike the germans (since they are germans -francs-once removed after all ). Like Americans as a whole this means that no matter what happens, they find their feet pretty quickly in historically short time frames. If the Euro fails, it will mean that France and Germany enter a phase of disengagement. Ultimately that amounts to inconvenience if both they and Germany continue to do one thing each, export and not consume. the rest is acedemic.

[eric]

Problem is that France isn't exporting, and that high taxes are discouraging new business.

[Dylan]

Population is stagnant too. They are below replacement rate I think (as is a lot of Europe). (Edit I misspoke it seems. Apparently most of Europe is slightly growing or at replacement rate, with the exception of Germany and a few smaller countries)

In many respects Europe appears on the verge of a serious decline over the next century or so.

[OGPhilly]

[PoS]

Its what happens when you embrace the welfare state. Take note, librulz.

[Dylan]

[eric]

[PoS]

I wouldnt call America a welfare state like France... yet (the Frenchies spend almost 35% of their GDP towards entitlements). But with Obamacare and the coming SS crisis it may well turn out like it.