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French here (though living abroad for long). I was surprised by the characterization of France.
I wouldn’t have explained the toll highway system through independence and freedom, for instance, which aren’t top of mind in this somewhat collectivist nation (arguably halfway between Asian and Anglo-Saxon cultures in that regard).
For me, those highways are the expensive remnants of a centralized planning state that had grandiose plans for national infrastructure during “Les Trente Glorieuses” (1945–1975) and launched both ambitious road and rail projects to better connect Paris to the rest of the country.
As for innovation… it was mostly a matter of national pride and independence vis-à-vis the US in the postwar period, leading to subsidized or nationalized corps (SNCF, Bull, Aérospatiale, etc) lunching the TGV, Minitel, nuclear plants, Ariane launcher, etc
But actual grassroots/organic innovation is far more subdued due to the amount of red tape and the punitive taxation of running a business 4 replies
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