What was happening when France “decoupled”?

We compare the macroeconomic performances of France and Germany since the start of the 1990s to identify at what point France decoupled from Germany. It was in 2004. What was happen ing in France during this period that explains the deterioration in its economy? When we look at the investment effort, the innovation effort , the quality of the education system, cost competitiveness and the corporate tax burden, we see that France’s decoupling can be attributed to the fact that Germany made progress and France did not with regard to: The innovation effort; The education system; Cost competitiveness. It was not just the macroeconomy - innovation and education also played a role.