1. Each well-being dimension is measured by one to four indicators from the OECD Better Life Index set. Normalised
indicators are averaged with equal weights. Indicators are normalised to range between 10 (best) and 0, according
to the following formula: (indicator value – minimum value)/(maximum value – minimum value) x 10.
2. 2012 or last available year and 2005 or closest year.
3. Annualised growth rates.
Source: OECD (2014), OECD Better Life Index, www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org; OECD, Income Distribution and Poverty and
National Accounts Databases.
France’s fundamental economic problem is a lack of growth. That lack has a short-term
component that is cyclical and results from insufficient demand. It is important for France to
continue with consolidation at an appropriate and recovery-compatible pace and letting the
automatic stabilisers work. But growth has been sluggish for about a generation (Panel C),
which reflects supply-side weaknesses. These weaknesses have also led to a gradual
deterioration in the competitiveness of its enterprises, manifest in a weakening in foreign
trade performance since around 2002, with steady loss of market share of French exporters