Thompson 5th Period Geo

France Demographic Data Birth Rate -  11.9 births Death Rate -  9.6 deaths Infant Mortality Rate -  3.2 deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy -  82.2 years Literacy Rate - 99.00% GDP per Capita - 41800.00 USD France Quality of Life France  ranks above the average in income and wealth, housing, health status, civic engagement, social connections, work- life  balance and personal security. It ranks below average in subjective well-being, environmental  quality , education and skills, and jobs and earnings.  France  places 31st out of 36  countries  in terms of a  friendly  attitude towards families with children. ... But despite the downsides some 64 percent of respondents in  France  said moving to the  country  had made them happier, compared to 61 percent globally. citation “The World Factbook: France.”  Central Intelligence Agency , Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, www.cia.gov/library...

                      Government background France is a republic with a strong national government. Its present government, called the Fifth Republic, has been in effect since 1958. The First Republic was established in 1792. Between 1792 and 1958, the structure of the French government changed a number of times. France's national government has three branches. They are (1) an executive branch headed by a president and a prime minister, (2) a legislative branch consisting of a two-chamber Parliament, and (3) a judicial branch, or system of courts. France's Parliament consists of two houses, the National Assembly and the Senate. The National Assembly consists of 577  deputies,  who are elected by the voters for five-year terms, unless an election is called earlier. The president has the power to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections. The Senate has 348 members. Senators are elected to six-year terms by r...

  What is the way of life in France? life in France doesn't revolve around work, money, or having the nicest things.  French  lifestyle is all about savoring the small moments, being in the moment, choosing quality over quantity, and squeezing every last bit of pleasure possible. It's about elevating simple everyday routines into something pleasurable. https://www.happilyeveradventures.com/french-living-habits/ How does   Coronavirus Impact on Way of Life in France? More than half of the global population is under strict forms of social distancing , with more than 90 countries in lock down to fight against COVID-19 pandemic. France implemented the lock down from March 17 to May 11, 2020 . The aim of this measure is to drastically increase the so-called social distance between individuals to break the chains of transmission and reduce COVID-19 spread. It is an unprecedented measure that was previously implemented only in Italy, Spain, and Austria , following the examp...

  Economic background Most French businesses are privately owned. The government owns all or part of certain businesses, including some banks and steel companies.  Most of France’s total land area is fertile. The richest farmlands lie in the north and northeast, where wheat and sugar beets are the chief crops.  Service industries  are those economic activities that produce services, not goods. They account for about 80 percent of both France’s workers and its total economic output. Service industries are especially important to the Paris area. Coronavirus impact on economy It is counterintuitive but the current spread of Covid may on balance be the least worst thing that could happen now.  In July the World health  Organisation said full lock downs could be 'the only option' to prevent resurgence. But last week Dr David Nabarro, a WHO special envoy for Covid, told Andrew Neil on Spectator TV that 'We in the WHO do not advocate lock downs as the primary...

  Religious Background During the early 1500's,  Many French people became Protestants. They followed the teachings of John Calvin and were called  Huguenots.   In the late 1500's, French Roman Catholics and the Huguenots fought a series of civil wars that took a lot of years to end. Thousands of people from the Huguenots were killed during the  Massacre of Saint Bartholomew's Day. After 30 years of the war going  In 1593, Henry became a Roman Catholic to achieve peace. Now the Catholicism is the largest religion in France. Catholicism and Corona virus   France issued strict limits on travel, banned public gatherings, and ordered the closure of businesses considered nonessential for the public.  The government also announced measures to support businesses, health care workers, and unemployed people. Infection rates declined in May, and authorities began to relax many business and travel restrictions. Citations Kesselman, Mark. "France."  Worl...

  France, The world Factbook, October 21/2020,  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html ,