01.11.2009 0

Column: RT Editorial November 2009

The sun shines on the young

It has long been the conventional wisdom that France is a wonderful country to visit and a fulfilling place to live. Many Brits have plucked up the courage to buy a second home here, while others have moved across lock, stock and barrel, often to retire and spend their last years in a better climate. But although the sun is warmer than at home, few expats have viewed the country as a hot prospect for employment. The image of better weather, superior food, and joie de vivre has always been tempered by the view that working here could be problematic.

The recession in the UK has brought important changes. For although many young French nationals still work in the UK, the pendulum has started to swing in the other direction. As we report in our lead story, young, professional British people are discovering that France, and the Riviera in particular, offers opportunities far beyond the obvious. These gifted newcomers are truly new Europeans.

Meanwhile, the depth and strength of the recession in the UK has created problems for older and longer-established British residents and we also report that many expats now face hardship as incomes dwindle and the pound slides closer to parity with the euro.

The young and old have different stories, but the cause is the same: the continued weakness of the UK economy.

Share |

Go back

Comments

Add a comment