Despite high social tensions, France is actually doing better

France’s high social tensions have economic causes: rising housing costs, weak social mobility, the deteriorating structure of jobs, pressure on social welfare systems due to population ageing. But it should not be overlooked that in reality, the state of the French economy is improving , as illustrated by: The rise in the employment rate and in the participation rate; The rise in the proportion of permanent employment contracts in new jobs; The recovery in industry, with job creation and an upturn in production capacity, albeit unfortunately without an upturn in export market shares; Business creations and corporate modernisation; The clear rise in inbound foreign direct investment. It has to be acknowledged that there is both a structural improvement in the French economy and social tensions partly caused by objective economic causes.