Turning now specifically to France:
According to The Guardian (27/01/07): “Barclays estimates that 50,000 British people buy property in France each year, often selling their home in England to buy ruins mortgage-free and painstakingly doing them up. In addition to the resident British, some half a million more own holidays homes there [surely an excessive estimate, see below].

French property fairs in Britain were once 65% geared towards holiday homes; now the balance has tipped in favour of people seeking a permanent move. The traditional British retired professionals such as ex-teachers, police officers and civil servants living down the sweep of the west of France and across to the Côte d'Azur and Alps are now being joined by couples in their 30s and 40s.”

The French census of 2004 revealed that there were 100,000 Britons living permanently in France - double the figure of five years earlier. And this does not include the estimated 50,000 people who have second homes across the Channel, where many spend more than half the year. (Daily Telegraph 02/04/07)

According to Simon Jenkins in the Sunday Times (22/04/07), 42,000 Britons emigrated to France in 2005, against the 30,000 French men and women who settled in the UK. Jenkins says there are 50,000 second home owners, whilst 7.3 million British holidaymakers choose France each year.

It seems that so many French are attracted to the UK because of its more favourable environment for entrepreneurs. It reportedly takes two days to set up a company in Britain against three months in France. Whatever the overall advantages of living in France, the country’s economy and bureaucracy are not among them. It remains to be seen whether Sarkozy will be able to carry out his proposed reforms.

WHY THE BRITS ARE LEAVING

The reasons for the exodus are both negative and positive

As you sit in stationary traffic and pouring rain, worrying about the mortgage and whether you'll ever get a date for treatment on that ingrowing toenail, you may not be totally surprised by the news. In the league table of the best countries to live, Britain is 37th. And as if that wasn't wounding enough, the country judged to offer the finest quality of life in the world is none other than our closest, but not always friendliest neighbour, France. The list of 191 countries was compiled by the U.S. travel magazine International Living using nine criteria - cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety, and climate.
(Daily Telegraph 26/01/07)

Prev  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >