Economic Growth and Household Purchasing Power in France: Key Changes Since 1960

Abstract

[eng] In France, recent economic trends have rekindled the feeling of divergence between global economic growth and changes in purchasing power. Long series of national accounts help put this gap in perspective. More so than GDP, the most appropriate indicator for capturing changes in the living conditions of households is gross disposable income (GDI) per consumption unit. Several factors have combined to limit its rise since the 1960s and, despite its recent recovery, it has tended to stagnate over the last decade, as between the late 1970s and the 1980s. Overall, the picture over the past few decades is not one of a steadily rising standard of living. But national accounts do not support the hypothesis that it would have declined. Two factors may account for its perceived decline: consumption norms, that grow faster than consumption possibilities, and rising vertical or intergenerational inequalities. However, vertical inequalities have remained relatively stable and parity in living standards between workers and pensioners has been maintained as well. It will be more difficult to achieve such a parity in the future.