What France can learn from Britain

Pascal Boris and Arnaud Vaissie of think-tank Cercle d'outre-Manche consider that France can learn from the UK in order to get back onto a "sustainable economic growth path that will create jobs and wealth. ... With 2.5m fewer inhabitants than France, the UK generates €76bn ($98bn) more annual gross domestic product. This is equal to €2,400 more per head. Twenty five years ago, the UK's GDP per head was 75 per cent that of France. Why is it relevant for France to benchmark itself against Britain? Apart from similar populations and GDPs, both have the same percentage of GDP coming from industry ... And service. ... Both have a 1,000 year history of centralised nation-states. ... Both have an inclusive social model with free access to education and health to all ...How did Britain go from being the sick man of Europe to a high growth, high employment country? ... Britain has shown that work is a better way of creating wealth than leisure.”

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