I was astonished that you even questioned that there were distinct differences between the "big 3" economies in the EU. Well for starters UK, has a services based economy, where Germany is more manufacturing, and France is a basket case. The ideology is, UK is far more progressive, smaller government, with a far greater reach of trading, which leaving the EU will provide it. Whereas Germany and France are far more socialist at heart, and the fact that Germany and France want a politic behemoth that the EU provides it, is testimony to that desire.
Read it as a comment on one of the daftest posts I've seen on here - Germany and France being too Socialist, that is. I should really apologise for reacting, as I'd sworn myself off this thread. As you were.
Thank you for your response. Agree on the nature of the UK economy. The public sector in France is definitely big, about 25% of all employment. In the UK its 21.5%, in Germany 13%. France is obviously in a bit of bother at the moment, but with a slightly smaller population which works less hours, retires younger and has a more generous benefits system, they still manage to be €12 an hour more productive than the UK and have virtually the same GDP, not sure who that makes the basket case. Germany has a $281bn surplus in trade, including services, whereas we have a $200bn deficit. France has a deficit of $90bn. The ideology bit is down to individual perspective, there are plenty of people in the UK who would prefer a Keynesian economic approach to a Friedman/Hayek one.
Still pondering the migration protest question Ellers? I’ll remind you, do you agree with the anti migration protesters in Brussels, disagree with them or do you have no opinion? You posted the link to the story, so I assume you found it interesting.
Lots of people seem to like Keynes in the harder time and Friedman in the better times. Consistently applying the theory of one or other is better than that imo...
I’m instinctively drawn to Keynes but suspect the world has moved on too much for it to be valid now. But Friedman/Hayek is demonstrably only good for making the very rich richer, this ‘trickle down’ stuff has been proven to be bullshit.
mmm, then the UK GDP has outstripped France's over the past 4 years, the percentage of the population in employment is UK 73%, versus Frances 64%. The UKs trade deficit has always been offset by significantly higher foreign direct investment. Ok basket case was a tad harsh, but I would prefer to run a small business in the UK, than in France. People who I have worked with in French businesses, have always been envious of the UK's more entrepreneurial spirit. But that is purely personal experience, and impossible to extrapolate. Those productivity statistics have always been a misnomer to me, as my personal experience has always been totally different. I have had to go to France many times on business, and the issue has always been our problematic subsidiaries in France, who tie themselves up in red tape.
Fair points, and I would certainly prefer to run a business of almost any size in the UK rather than France. But I suspect I might prefer to be a low/mid level private sector employee in France. Speculation, will never be tested. I have never really understood the productivity stats either how they are calculated or what they actually mean. But they get trotted out as a problem a lot.
With a record 21.3 million refugees globally The UN pact was agreed in July by all 193 UN members except the US, but only 164 formally signed it at a meeting last Monday in Morocco. so if every signatory country took 129000 refugees the problem would be wiped out in one go if the uk could take 258000 then we dont have to take any its only 64000 each for england wales scotland and ni come on you can do it some of these might make interesting reading More Stories What porn can tell us about the world in 2018 Boys can have periods too, children to be taught in latest victory for transgender campaigners Team Remain’s dark arts in the corridors of Brussels are paying off Theresa May's most senior allies accused of 'betrayal' over 'secret second referendum plot' Palace denies claims Prince Harry is banned from Boxing Day shoot by wife Meghan
