This page is one of the annex pages of www.understandfrance.org, the foremost site on Franco-American intercultural differences. It contains documents, facts and figures illustrating the content of some of its pages.

Facts & figures

This page contains Facts and Figures about France and the French. Some are significant, other less so.... On French society Miscellaneous

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Miscellaneous facts and figures
Urban and social problems : in the midst of violent urban riots, a newspaper (Le Parisien, Nov.3,2005) listed " Ten Reasons For Hope ", identifying successful actions to reduce social tensions in the poorest areas. Among them : " Positive examples " : there are more and more examples of individual successes in Arab and Black communities : singers and sportsmen but also businessmen and professionals " Older Brothers " are people with a job (civil servants, social workers, etc..) who devote part of their time to helping younger members of their community " Houses " : dramatic changes in the urban environment : every year, thousands (around 10,000) of ugly apartment buildings are destroyed and replaced by inexpensive houses for lower middle class "Internships " are offered to the best students in high schools located in sensitive areas so they can benefit from better conditions of life and work " Access to Elite Schools " : the most prestigious schools ("grandes Ecoles) have special programs to give access to bright students who would not consider applying due to lack of information (Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris : 10 to 20 every year, ESSEC Business School : patronage by students) ; two of the few French affirmative action programs " Zones Franches " : around 85 tax-free industrial areas have been created, attracting jobs in the most depressed urban districts Other reasons include : " Feminine Actions ", " Inter-religion Actions " (Muslim-Jewish or Christian-Muslim initiatives), " Vacations " (for the poorest children) and " Culture " Glossary : ZEP (Zone d'Education Prioritaire) : areas with a high proportion of poor minorities of immigrants in schools ZUS (Zone Urbaine Sensible) : areas with particulalrly difficult urban problesm (751 ZUS in France with 5 million inhabitants) ANPE (Agence Nationale Pour l'Emploi) : the public agency in charge of the policy for the un-employed (20 % of people living in a ZUS are un-employed)		About "laïcité" (secularism), the opinion of the French is reflected in these answers (CSA poll, Feb.2005) Is the principle of "laïcité" threatened in France ? Yes, quite : 25% Yes, rather : 33% Not really : 21% Not at all : 19% For you, what is "laïcité" ? To ensure all religious are treated equally : 32% To separate religion and politics : 28% To ensure freedom of thought : 28% To diminish the influence of religions : 9% What do you think of the following statements :  It would be...  Rather good  Rather bad  Don't know All visible religious signs should be forbidden to all employees of public administrations  62%  34%  4% Taxpayer money should contribute to building churches, mosques, synagogs, temples,...  39%  57%  4% People belonging to non-christian religions should be entitled to have different holidays  30%  64%  6% More about religion. Example of local taxes in Paris in 2005  2005, in US $  Studio 30 sq.m (300 sq.f.) gentrified neighborhood  3 bedroom 100 sq.m. (1000 sq.f.) bohemian trendy neighborhood  Taxe foncière (owner)  400  1,200  Taxe d'habitation (occupant)  380  1,400
Various aspects of the French society
The French passion for equality is illustrated by the following numbers (Source : Le Monde 3/5/2006) (inequality is measured by the ratio of income after tax of the 10% richest to the 10% poorest) :    1980  2000  USA  4,7  5,5  Israel  4,0  5,0  Spain  4,4  4,8  U.K.  3,5  4,6  Taiwan  3,2  3,8  France  3,4  3,5  Germany  2,9  3,3  Sweden  2,4  2,9 Conclusion : some countries are "more unequal" (USA) than others (Sweden) inequality has progressed everywhere over the past 25 years except in France (according to Marseille, the ratio was 4,8 in 1970) Examples of the French passion for the State : In October 2008, in a popular talk show on TV, someone says "Salaries are too low in France" ; the journalist replies : "There is nothing I can do about it : I am not the Minister of Finance". Translation : in France, salaries are considered the responsibility of the government. more to come		Retirement : a comparison between private and public sectors (2006) (Source : Figaro Magazine June 3, 2006)     Private sector  Civil servants  State-owned utilities(*), called "régimes spéciaux"  Number of years of work  42  40  37,5  Average age of retirement  61 y. 9mo.  57 y. 9mo.  54 to 55 y.  Employee's withdrawal on salary  10,35%  7,85%  <7,85%  Base for valuation of pension  25 best years  6 last months  between last and 6 last months  Index for pension  prices  prices  salaries  Reduction per year for early retirement  10% (2005)  3% (2012)  none  Right to have a job when retired  limited  no limit  no limit  Average pension (Euros)  1,465  1,832  1,530 / 2,119 (*) Electricity (EDF), rail transport (SNCF), mass transit (RATP) (for certain categories of the latter, the system is even more advantageous) Back to "working in France"
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To table of contents To top of the page  Back to home page	Harriet Welty Rochefort writes articles and books about France and the French. Order her books: "French Toast, An American in Paris Celebrates The Maddening Mysteries of the French", St.Martin's Press, New York, 1999 "French Fried, The Culinary Capers of An American in Paris", St.Martin's Press, New York, 2001 More on Harriet's books (excerpts, upcoming events, testimonials, etc..)
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