Taxes and France

I am studying the French language, learning to communicate with it. Part of my work is to "read" the French newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro (at least some headlines and a few short articles).

While reading today I saw a page about their new president Macron and his positions on various issues. The one which was most interesting to me and may be one of the most difficult for European leaders is taxation. They are facing the same problem of corporate tax optimization (which means the ways they find to avoid paying any taxes).

I have considered tax reform in America, but in Europe they have a much more government-intense economy with universal healthcare, more protected employment, and other things. In America we have a lot more freedom to change our tax system or rates because our government, though large, is less fixed for domestic purposes. Our biggest expenditures which are rigid are Social Security, Medicare, and Defense spending. They have those and more in France.

In connection with learning French I have briefly been considering creation of a new blog where I will write every post in my horrible French. Maybe it will get better. I am also using Google Translate.

So, now I have to consider the European Tax Issue and how that may relate to global trade and America.

Stay tuned! If and when I create a new blog I will also announce it here.