Comments on: French lessons

By: Jaroslav Kramar

Jaroslav Kramar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:42:31 +0000

French literacy is close to 100%. Working population (ex. engineers), be it in the private or public sector, actually accomplishes things: Huge bridges, A-380, (Concorde, Fast breeder reactor), TGV, AIDS Research (!), etc. Even if it takes some time.

In contrast, the US is carrying a huge load of (let’s say) 30% literally or functionally) illiterate population.

In addition, and in contrast with European cultures, in the US the reward comes for fixing things. Ex post facto.
In Europe they are infinitely better at forecasting and preventing. Current economic “crisis” was predictable (Community Redevelopment Act). Europe has better aptitude for learning from own or other people’s experience / mistakes. Had to.

Humility of smaller nations vs. arrogance of a big one. (Bill O’Reilly (Foxnews) might take note)

By: Cedric Oudinot

Cedric Oudinot — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:06:00 +0000

As a Frenchman living in the US,I was hoping this article would give me a compelling reason to go back to the land of fine food and wine.

Unfortunately,productivity figures can be misleading;the metric in which the French beat the US is on “GDP per hour worked” which still makes the French “poorer” than Americans in terms of total GDP per capita.

Furthermore,the natural unemployment rate in France is higher than in the US, which translates into a smaller fraction of workers out of the total population(52% in France Vs 62% in the US).
Hence,you would have to assume that the top 52% of US workers are less productive,per hour,than their French counterparts to be able to draw any meaningful insights.

By: Denis Cailliau

Denis Cailliau — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:53:53 +0000

I am a French CFO having worked and led major projects in US and French multinationals. I have found the receipes for successful projects similar in all countries. However, the weight of the factors to push may be different following the culture.
The months with or without “r” do not seem to me the key drivers.( The months “without r” are more months when you should not eat oysters !). It is probably for you a typical French answer…
” l’herbe du champ d’à côté semble toujours plus verte” seems to me the proper comment !

By: David Alexandre

David Alexandre — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:36:56 +0000

As a Frenchman working abroad since 9 years I have some experience with how we are seen. I think that the approach of the French population to work is quite contrasted. If you look at how the country works in a general you would indeed be struck by the fact that a huge part of the population work for public bodies, that there is always a strike somewhere and that you get concerned while reading that more than 80% of young people wish to work for a public company or an administration. This being said you would be impressed by the strength and the efficiency of most of the larger private companies (L’Oreal, Michelin, Total, Sanofi, Danone, Axa, …) and the innovative power of many smaller companies. In these companies I think that French people are inclined to work a lot of hours, can be quite creative and flexible and are not afraid of implementing complex concepts. On the other hand they are not the best team players, they don’t delegate easily and they are reluctant to speak foreign languages.
I hope this helps. I must now leave to take my summer break….