Figure 1.--Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing, served as French President (1974-81). France had made enormous economic progress during the post-War era. It was during his presidency that major changes began on social issues (divorce, homosexuality, contraception, and abortion). He faced the impact of a slowing economy. The inital cause was the Arab Oil Crusis (1973). It was the end of the Post-World War II 'thirty glorious years'. He like subsequent political leaders understood the cost of the welfare state, the impact of labor law on productivity, growing regulatory burden, mounting debt loans, tax policy, administrative costs (French Government and EC/EU), and other factors. Here President Giscard d'Estaing is visting a school in Bron, a section of Lyon in 1974.

The post-War era with European integration was a huge success in both European stability, but also in prosperity. France and other continental European countries, achieved unprecedented levels of economic prosperity and significatly closed the income gap with the United States. These rapid increased leveled of in the late-20th century. And while France and the other Europeans have maintained a high level, but have not since significantly expanded living standards and general prosperity. We have found only aimited European industry on why this has occurred. The basic interest in ensuring that state welfare systems and entitlements are not impaued. There is less ibterest in what has caused the end to the 'thirty clorious years'. The most immediate impact was the Arab Oul Crisis (1973). This significantly increased fanily and corporate fuel costs. Other developments include the cost of the welfare state, the impact of labor law on productivity, growing regulatory burden, mounting debt loans, tax policy, administrative costs (French Government and EC/EU), and other factors. All these factors adopted in the post-War era by the end of the century began to impct economic activity. While France had undergone enormous economic change in the post-War era, there was only limited social change. French law makers were not interested in making reforms that might promote productivity increases. But they proved amenable to social change. And soicial change began with the Paris school riots (1968). Major social reforms followed in the 1970s, including divorce, tolerance of homosexuality, contraception, and abortion. Another development was the de-Chritianization of France. Frebch pews were increasingly empty except for major religious holiday like Easter and Christmas.

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Created: 6:10 AM 8/13/2017
Last updated: 6:10 AM 8/13/2017