FRANCE M.K., A.K., Maj Kristensen, K.K., A.K.
Population and its trends Popula4on • • •
Total : 64, 768, 389.52 (62, 814, 233 in metropolitan) Paris (capital) – largest city, accommodates about one-‐sixth of the country's populaIon Other ciIes with over a million people: Lyon, Marseille and Lille
Age structure • • •
0–14 years: 18.6% (male 6,129,729/female 5,838,925) 15–64 years: 65% (male 20,963,124/female 20,929,280) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,403,248/female 6,155,767)
Geographic Distributions • largest land area of any Western European naIon • total land area of over 211,000 square miles • coastline of 2,130 miles • area is about four-‐fiVhs of the size of Texas • lies between Mediterranean Sea on the southeast and Bay of Biscay and English Channel to the north and west • shares borders with Andorra, Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain
Family Structure • TradiIonal family structure evolved from extended family to nuclear family • Average of 2.5 children in a family • Since 1960’s marriages have decreased, divorces increased • Increase in single parent families, unmarried coupes, childless couples • PACS (“civil pact of solidarity”) –civil union between two adults (same-‐sex or opposite-‐sex) • Same-‐sex marriage not legally recognized – but President Hollande and legislaIve branch currently in process of wriIng an enacIng a law
Income •
GDP $2.773 trillion (2011)
•
GDP growth 1.7% (04.2012)
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GDP by sector: •
agriculture (2.1%)
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industry (19%)
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services (78.9%)
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GNI $2.3 trillion (2011)
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GNP $2.8 million (2011)
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HDI .88 (#20 on UN's Human Development Report of 2011)
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Infla7on (CPI) 1.5%
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Labor force 28.21 million Unemployment 10.8% (09.2012)
Currency •
Euro dollar
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Current exchange rate: $1 USD = 0.77 Euro (as of 12/5/2012)
Language Official language • French is the only official language of France
English, Spanish, Italian and German are the most commonly studied foreign languages in French schools
Regional languages • English (34%) • Spanish (13%) • German (8%) • Italian (2%)
Education • Primary EducaIon: Children begin at ages 2 or 3 • Secondary EducaIon: Age 11 • At age 15, students choose between vocaIonal or academic path • University EducaIon: If students pass Le Baccalaureate, they can go to one of France’s 77 universiIes for free. • Must conInue to pass standard exams in order to maintain enrollment • TerIary EducaIon: Top 5% of students enroll in a Grand Ecole where they pursue specialized disciplines for free.
Religions • Catholicism • 83-‐88% • Islamic • 5-‐10% (about five million) • Protestant • 2% (about one million) • Jewish • 1% (about 650,000) • Millions of agnosIcs and atheists as well
Political System Semi-‐presiden4al republic • • •
ConsItuIon of 1958 defines FiVh Republic, frequent amendments ConsItuIon doesn’t include Bill of Rights, but makes reference to DeclaraIon of the Rights of Man and of the CiIzen (1789) Momo: liberte, egalite, fraternite – “liberty, equality, brotherhood”
Separation of Powers: 3 branches Presiden4al Branch • •
President (5 year term) & Council of Ministers (appointed by president) Prime Minister (appointed by president)
Legisla4ve Branch • • •
NaIonal Assembly (voted by general populaIon, 5 year term) Approves prime minister, can vote out enIre presidenIal branch Senate (appointed by electoral college, 6-‐year term)
Judicial Branch
Current President
François Hollande As of May 15, 2012
Multiple Political Parties OVen form cooperaIve coaliIons Two major coaliIons represent parIes on leV and right - LeV – PS (ParI Socialiste) - Right – UMP (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire) - Currently PS and allies in power • •
Political System • • •
Founding member of European Union, abides by EU regulaIons & treaIes All French ciIzens over 18 eligible to vote Differs from most democracies by using two-‐round voIng: large number of parIes in first round, two major coaliIons in second round
Culture • The French are very formal - The way they greet each other - Mannerism - Language – formal and informal forms of speaking, when referring to someone, “vous,” is formal and “tu” is informal. • The French take a lot of pride in their language. • If a foreigner cannot speak at least some French, he or she may be looked down upon.
Culture • IniIal impression can view the French as stuffy and inhospitable, which can be an iniIal barrier in forming relaIonships with clients. • Relaxed on Ime - Being late to a meeIng is perfectly normal - Can be frustraIng to the American where punctuality is viewed in high regards