Only 13 percent of US companies having invested in France have a good opinion of the country, a joint survey by the American Chamber of Commerce and Bain & Company consultants said on October 15. For 2013, the annual survey said only 10 percent of its respondents, executives at French units of US companies, thought the French economic context was improving. This was down from 12 percent last year and 21 percent in 2011. The survey covered 82 respondents "representing about 55,000 employees and more than 40 billion euros in sales", a statement said.
"A recurring theme is the lack of predictability in economic and budget policy," said Marc-Andre Kamel of Bain Consulting at a news conference. The response data "reflects much, much anxiety," he said.
The Chamber also surveyed American employees working in France and only 9 percent would recommend the country as a job destination with hefty taxes the number one gripe, followed by bureaucracy and tensions in the workplace. Employees were however upbeat on France's social safety net, especially health and education. Americans are "fascinated" by the French healthcare system, Kamel said.