FRANCE has slipped to 23rd in the Davos list of the world’s most competitive countries – being rated 137th for its tax incentives, 135th for its state debt and 135th for its relations between staff and employers, out of 148 countries.
However, it was ranked 2nd worldwide for the quality of its road network – and No1 for its work against inflation.
The ranking from the World Economic Forum at Davos saw Switzerland top the list, followed by Singapore, Finland, Germany and the US. Britain was 10th behind Sweden, Hong-Kong, the Netherlands and Japan.
France is still ranked the world’s fifth most powerful economy by the IMF but has slipped on the Davos ranking where it was 21st last year. Although its total mark has not changed, it slipped back because other countries have improved. In 2011 it was 18th.
The WEF worked out the ranking after contacting 15,000 business leaders in 140 countries. France got its worst mark from the business leaders for its hiring and firing policies, where it was 144th in the world.
As well as being world leader in fighting inflation and having good roads, France was also rated third best for its landline phone network, fourth for its rail network, and fifth for its school administration. Its spending on research and development earned it 15th place.
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Visa and residency cards for France*
