French fried.

• Author: Samuel, Henry
• Position: Off the News - Brief article

"More than half of the active French population is living off the state, according to figures in a new book by a tax lawyer seeking to explain why so many of his clients in private enterprise are leaving France.

"With the country on the brink of nationwide tax revolt, Why I'm Going to Leave France, published this week, has thrown more fuel on the fire by suggesting that 14.5 million people out of the country's 28 million-strong workforce are--one way or another--making a living off taxpayers' money. To reach the figure, the author begins with France's civil servants, of which there are 5.2 million and whose number has increased by 36 percent since 1983. These represent 22 percent of the workforce compared with a European average of 15 percent, leading him to conclude that France has 1.5 million too many 'fonctionnaires.'

"He then adds the 3.2 million unemployed people in France relying on state benefits, another 1.3 million taking low-income handouts, a further two million in the 'parapublic' sector--majority state-owned companies--and more than a million people in state-funded associations such...