64% of the French population think that the worst is still to come, and most believe that France will not beat the crisis before 2011.
The fourth annual Etats de la France convention for economic policy and business leaders and decision-makers was held on 12 November 2009 at the Palais du Luxembourg. To accompany the convention, TNS Sofres, a partner of Etats de la France, was commissioned to conduct a survey into the French population's perceptions of the economic crisis.
The survey was conducted between 30 October and 2 November 2009 among a sample of 1000 persons.
Five main conclusions can be drawn:
- The French feel depressed and pessimistic about France's future.
- Overall, France is neither more nor less well equipped to tackle the crisis than its European neighbours.
- The French would like to see far-reaching reforms of the capitalist system, but do not believe this will happen.
- The government's political response to the crisis garners very little support, but the specific measures taken by the government to tackle the crisis are considered effective, with the exception of Sarkozy's treasury bond initiative.
- Although the majority of the population does not think that the crisis has greatly changed France's influence in Europe or worldwide, more believe that its influence has increased than fallen.
The French feel depressed and pessimistic about France's future…
- The French feel depressed and mistrustful; they have had enough. They have little confidence in the future, with 64% of the population believing that the worst is still to come. This pessimism is even greater among the unemployed and working classes, where 80% subscribe to this view.
- 39% of the population think that France will not beat the crisis until after 2011. Only 25% express greater optimism and hope to see an end to the crisis in 2010, and 24% in 2011.
- The younger population (aged 25 to 34) is more optimistic about the current situation and the future of France.
Overall, France is neither more nor less well equipped to tackle the crisis than its European neighbours…
- 58% of the French population think that France is no better equipped to tackle the crisis than its European neighbours. However, 26% believe that France has certain advantages, whereas 12% do not.
- For 44%, France's well-developed social welfare system constitutes its principle weapon against the crisis.
- Furthermore, 36% believe that France's entrepreneurial spirit constitutes a significant advantage. Indeed, 67% of the population applaud the measures taken by the government to promote small-scale business initiatives (the auto-entrepreneur system) and support small and medium-sized companies. In particular, 77% of those aged between 25 and 34 support these measures.
- The French believe that France is hindered primarily by high youth unemployment (52%), the quantity of taxes and social charges (45%) and the size of the debt (38%).
The French would like to see far-reaching reforms of the capitalist system, but do not believe this will happen…
- 50% of the French population would like the capitalist system to be thoroughly overhauled, but only 8% believe that this will happen.
- 37% would like some aspects of the system to be reformed, and 36% think that they will be.
- 43% think that the capitalist system will not be reformed, but only 3% want this.
- 32% of those aged between 18 and 24 would like to see far-reaching reforms of the capitalist system, compared with 50% overall.
The government's political response to the crisis garners very little support, but the specific measures taken by the government to tackle the crisis are considered effective, with the exception of Sarkozy's treasury bond initiative:
- There is little support for the government's economic policy. Almost half the population believe that the policy direction taken by the government is wrong. Indeed, only 27% of the population support it. However, senior citizens aged over 65 are more supportive of government policy (38% of this group). The government has also retained the backing of its political supporters, 62% of whom consider the policy direction appropriate.
- However, the specific measures taken are considered effective. 67% of the French population deem the auto-entrepreneur system to be useful, 63% applaud measures taken to promote environmentally-friendly growth, and 61% approve of job creation schemes.
- 47% of those questioned consider the government's recovery plan to be useful, and 39% do not.
- There is much less support for Sarkozy's treasury bond initiative, which is considered ineffectual by 56% and supported by 27%.
Although the majority of the population does not think that the crisis has greatly changed France's influence in Europe (48 %) or worldwide (51 %), more believe that its influence has increased than fallen:
- 29% of the French population believe that France's influence in Europe has increased, and 14% think that it has fallen.
- 22% of the French population believe that France's influence worldwide has increased, and 17% think that it has fallen.
Survey conducted by TNS Sofres/Logica through one-on-one discussions at the subject's home, between 30 October and 2 November 2009, among a sample of 1000 persons representative of the overall population aged 18 and over.
Survey completed in compliance with the quota method (gender, age, profession of the head of household) and stratified by region and urban agglomeration type.
