The issue is why can't France even attract engineers and investors from WITHIN the Eurozone, these people don't need Visa. The issue is elsewhere, not in the pool of engineers. France can't even retain its own engineers.
Also, you're begging the question.
Also, you have to factor in that when the coffers are empty, France may be more willing to sell weapons abroad... So maybe it's not France that sees that harm.
http://www.france24.com/en/20150503-arms-sales-becoming-fran...
I note I have down-voted responses to replies that do not have further responses. Hence, from my point of view, it seems when the argument got difficult, down-voting was resorted to..
note: this comment was also down-voted within 5 minutes, again without comment. Those who never comment, never run the risk of malicious down-votes.
> I note I have down-voted responses to replies that do not have further responses
by "have" I mean, I have received down-votes, not I have down-voted them.
Not surprisingly, it helps the economy: people dont lose their savings, jobs and houses when they get sick in Europe.
> I'd rather have a less strong economy
There are plenty of countries/citizens that can't dictate what they want.
Do competing developing countries have this choice? Why not?
As for Paris, I love Paris but then I'd have a hard time getting work done there. Being near would be enough. I worked in Milan and Geneva and would take the train into Paris for the weekend but not for work.
(it was the classic regional thing: when we saw a car with a '69 license plate, we'd grumble ;p)
not to mention setting up a company costs £14, 20% corporation tax (dropping to 17%), tax back for individuals investing in SEIS companies (which is easy for a firm apply for), and R&D tax credits
That's a bigger deal than it might seem, even if you're recruiting from countries that aren't nominally Anglophone.
If you pick a random engineer in, say, China, there's a lot higher probability that the engineer will speak English than French.
English also opens up India, where most educated people have studied English, and English is actually one of the official languages.
French is only common in countries where French is an official language, most of which have small populations and/or not much of a tech scene.
Just eyeballing this would indicate going after a German or Fin would likely cost more, because 1. They have similar programs, 2. They don't care about Visas and therefore are less likely to be invested in being or staying in France long-term. If France gives me a visa you can be sure I'm there for more than just my business. 3. Language. 270+ million people speak French, so why not pull from countries and cultures that have some shared history and association.
Seems to me this makes way more sense for France than chasing down Germans, Dutch, Fins or anyone else local.
I confirm!
Leaving the country = Best decision in my life :D
I had chalked it up to some kind of national self-deprecation that is the pride and birthright of true French people :)