France’s economic troubles run deeper than the rising cost of living.

High public spending, mounting debt, and a rigid labor market are putting increasing pressure on its economy. Comment “France” and we’ll send you an article that explores this topic further. Public spending in France reached 57.3% of GDP in 2025; its public social spending exceeds 30% of GDP, and its tax burden is the OECD’s second highest. Its pension obligations, segmented labor market, and mounting public debt suggest a different diagnosis. France’s challenges are rooted in a state whose commitments have grown harder to finance, not in a retreat from government intervention.