France: Squaring the Welfare Triangle

Abstract

France is one of the countries in continental Europe where social protection is essentially based on corporatism and the insurance principle derived from the triangular relationship between employers, employees and the state. The social security system which had developed by the early 1980s as the centrepiece of social policy was comprehensive, complex and pluralistic. The period of post-war expansion (les trente glorieuses) had been brought to an abrupt close in the wake of the oil crises of the 1970s and, as in other neighbouring countries, the deepening recession was forcing French governments to adapt their policies in response to budgetary deficits and rising unemployment. From 1981 to 1993, except for a brief hiatus between 1986 and 1988, France was ruled by left-wing governments at a time when most other European Union countries were governed from the right or centre right. The Socialist Party’s election manifesto of 24 January 1981 had bound them to seek new solutions to the problems of unemployment, social inequality, access to health, housing and education, and the rights of immigrants. In 1993 the electorate expressed its disappointment with ten years of Socialism, enabling the centre-right coalition to recapture power with a much more convincing majority than in 1986.

The future of Social Security is largely dependent on the prevailing psychological climate. In this respect, two opposing and contradictory elements can be identified: on the one hand, the French are strongly attached to the institution; on the other, they are not sufficiently aware of the responsibility they have towards it. (Laroque, 1985, p. 32)