NationStates Jolt Archive

While looking through various articles on the riots in France right now I saw some disturbing statistics on the unemployment in France. One article mentioned that the unemployment is 9.8% and in some areas it is as high as 25%.

Looking at these numbers and taking them seriously is proving pretty hard for me. How in the world could this be? If it is true their average unemployment is much higher than that of the United States. Another reason why this is hard for me to believe is that France is a Western European nations and (I assume) fairly well off. Can anyone shed some truth on this, or confirm it?

While looking through various articles on the riots in France right now I saw some disturbing statistics on the unemployment in France. One article mentioned that the unemployment is 9.8% and in some areas it is as high as 25%.

Looking at these numbers and taking them seriously is proving pretty hard for me. How in the world could this be? If it is true their average unemployment is much higher than that of the United States. Another reason why this is hard for me to believe is that France is a Western European nations and (I assume) fairly well off. Can anyone shed some truth on this, or confirm it?
It's what some people call "Eurosclerosis".

Despite what some say, it is not necessarily a result of the welfare state, but of the inflexibility of this current model of it. You'll see that Sweden, with similar welfare spending, gets more bang for its buck because it does it more efficiently.

But to alarm you - yes, it is true. Same in Germany by the way. You think people get all excited for nothing?

The US is currently in a pretty good situation - it had similar problems before during various crises, but the US labour market has always been more flexible - workers there seem quite happy to only have jobs for a few years and then find another, and the average time the person is unemployed is much lower.

And French people on average are still pretty well off, since they are pretty productive in what they do, and because their GDP is still the third highest in the EU I believe. Nonetheless, the past years have seen the natural rate of unemployment in Germany and France rise steadily, and so far they've done jack-shit about it, and believe me: I ain't happy.

It's what some people call "Eurosclerosis".

Despite what some say, it is not necessarily a result of the welfare state, but of the inflexibility of this current model of it. You'll see that Sweden, with similar welfare spending, gets more bang for its buck because it does it more efficiently.

But to alarm you - yes, it is true. Same in Germany by the way. You think people get all excited for nothing?

The US is currently in a pretty good situation - it had similar problems before during various crises, but the US labour market has always been more flexible - workers there seem quite happy to only have jobs for a few years and then find another, and the average time the person is unemployed is much lower.

And French people on average are still pretty well off, since they are pretty productive in what they do, and because their GDP is still the third highest in the EU I believe. Nonetheless, the past years have seen the natural rate of unemployment in Germany and France rise steadily, and so far they've done jack-shit about it, and believe me: I ain't happy.

Wow. You think that could be part of the reason there are riots? No one has a job? I was hoping that was false information. It always makes me sad when other friendly nations are not doing so well domestically or internationally. :( I hope they can get their problems sorted out and get the riots calmed down. I was hoping to go to Paris this summer...

I was hoping to go to Paris this summer...

If they don't have the problem sorted out by next summer there's going to be no France left.

If they don't have the problem sorted out by next summer there's going to be no France left.

Exaggerating the problem much?

Wow. You think that could be part of the reason there are riots? No one has a job? I was hoping that was false information.
That will be a big part of the reason for the anger that people feel in these suburbs, although I credit the people with enough intelligence to know that burning cars doesn't give them jobs - so I don't think it's the direct reason/goal for it.

But you can expect the majority of the young population in some of these urban streets to be unemployed and just generally pissed off at the system.

I recommend watching the movie La Haine, it's one of the best, and France has produced many good movies on the lives of those teenagers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113247/

Exaggerating the problem much?

If there's seven more months of rioting? I don't think so.

That will be a big part of the reason for the anger that people feel in these suburbs, although I credit the people with enough intelligence to know that burning cars doesn't give them jobs - so I don't think it's the direct reason/goal for it.

I don't either. But perhaps the death of the two teenagers was the spark that ignited all of this built up resentment towards the government. Not having jobs and living in a racsist society can do that to people.

A good example would be the L.A. riots. Of course the people that looted and burned stores knew that wouldn't right the social wrongs of their society but when you have a major situation (Rhodney King) that is the proverbial straw that breaks the Camels back it can bring out the worst in people.

I recommend watching the movie La Haine, it's one of the best, and France has produced many good movies on the lives of those teenagers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113247/

Thanks! I'm always on the lookout for good movies.

Exaggerating the problem much?
At that point, if the military hasn't put it down, they've probabaly joined it...

Exaggerating the problem much?

Not really. While it may seem a gross exaggeration, any riots that last that long are either being ignored, or are too powerful to be put down by the military. If the second case is true, the unrest therin will be permanantly damaging to France.

Of course, being realistic, I'll be suprised if these things last another week, let alone 6 months.

At that point, if the military hasn't put it down, they've probabaly joined it...

and history repeats.... :p

I've got a feeling France is having the same little Liberal quandry I had in the II forum when the guy I got to RP one of my colonies declared independence. In the end even the liberalist of liberals will send the army to kick some ass!

You can throw statistics in, but without context, it isnt a big deal. There are also area's in the US where unemployment is as bad as 23.5. Many nations in europe have high unemployment, and yet, aren't suffering riots.

Most unemployed people I know are happy to be unemployed. They get benefits from the state and they can do what they like.
On the other hand when you see how factories work nowadays, working is less ans less necessary. There is a Volkswagen factory in Germany with no light. All the machines are working in the dark. That's because there are no employees. Machines don't need light.
As for those who work, they want to work less.
How can a society be so perverted so as to measure its success on how much people work?

While looking through various articles on the riots in France right now I saw some disturbing statistics on the unemployment in France. One article mentioned that the unemployment is 9.8% and in some areas it is as high as 25%.

Looking at these numbers and taking them seriously is proving pretty hard for me. How in the world could this be? If it is true their average unemployment is much higher than that of the United States. Another reason why this is hard for me to believe is that France is a Western European nations and (I assume) fairly well off. Can anyone shed some truth on this, or confirm it?We have this thing called welfare. Just because you don't have a job doesn't mean that you're going to starve in the street anytime soon.

On the other hand when you see how factories work nowadays, working is less ans less necessary. There is a Volkswagen factory in Germany with no light. All the machines are working in the dark. That's because there are no employees. Machines don't need light.

too bad that society hasn't been keeping up with the reduced need for mass labor, and has allowed increased automation to actually impose hardships on people