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The French correction?

What can the UK learn from France about how to run the economy? Evan Davis asks why a typical French worker can do in four days what their British equivalent would do in five.

The French work fewer hours, take longer holidays and retire earlier than UK employees, but they are also more productive and their economy is therefore roughly the same size as ours. How do they do it?

As the UK looks for a way out of its sluggish economic growth, Evan Davis asks what we can learn from our neighbours. Why is it that for each hour worked a French employee produces almost 20 per cent more than a British one?

GUESTS

Olivier Morel, board member of the French Chamber of
Great Britain and partner at Cripps.

Rebecca Riley, professor of practice in economics at
King’s Business School, London, and member of The Productivity Institute.

and

Neil Coales, managing director of AgilitΓ© Solutions, Paris.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Producers: Simon Tulett and Julie Ball
Researcher: Marianna Brain
Editor: China Collins
Sound: Rod Farquhar and Graham Puddifoot
Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Mon 6 Feb 2023 11:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 2 Feb 2023 20:30
  • Mon 6 Feb 2023 11:30

Podcast