New economic data reveal a historic shift in Europe: Italy has surpassed France in GDP per capita for the first time, reflecting a sustained improvement in its standard of living while France’s situation weakens. Currently, France’s per capita wealth stands 1.5% below the European average, whereas in 2019 it was 5% above it.
The analysis rules out external factors such as globalization, the pandemic, or the war in Ukraine, since other countries faced the same challenges and achieved better results. Portugal and Poland, for example, posted significant gains over the same period.
According to these statements, the core problem lies in the French labor market: it is not about the length of the workday, but about low labor force participation, especially among young people and older workers. In France, only 60% of people aged 55 to 64 are employed, compared to a European average of 65%, a gap that largely explains the country’s loss of competitiveness.
Video Source: TF1
