France has been in the news lately for mounting political turmoil marked by Prime Minister Lecornu’s abrupt resignation, deepening budget battles, credit-rating warnings, and nationwide protests. The country’s fiscal deficit ranks among the largest of any advanced economy.
France already has one of the highest government revenue levels (as a % of GDP) among advanced economies, and raising taxes to address its fiscal woes—despite Macron’s campaign for lower rates—would risk igniting further protests.
The French government has a spending problem. The chart shows government expenditures (as a % of GDP) vs. a handful of EU peers.
France’s economy, which long tracked European Union (EU) growth, has slowed since 2023 even as the EU accelerated, with broad-based weakness across consumption, investment, and trade.
Growth in real household income and consumption has slowed.
Industrial production continues its long-term decline, while capacity utilization is flat.
France’s unemployment rate is high compared to the EU. The country faces an aging demographic challenge, and encouraging skilled immigration could help. Although the government has reduced unemployment benefits, they remain elevated relative to peer countries.
Since late 2024, French inflation has been weaker than the rest of the region.
Since the political/budget turmoil began in 2024, French government bond spreads have traded wide to their previous range vs. German bonds.
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