Heath issue

Two types 1 - Environmental factor 2- Economic factor

Environmental factor. Ensuring the durability of natural resources depends not only on national decisions but also on the populations' taking this vital issue into account. Ideological and cultural factors will increasingly determine how a society views environmental problems. Education plays an essential role in heightening awareness of these challenges, notably by establishing good practices to avoid waste of natural resources, reduce health risks and participate in a more sustainable development. The work of the Institute in this field contributes to exploring the interaction of society and the environment. Another option

Health policy : by all standards the French health system

compares very favourably to the US system (even after Obama's 2010 reform). It is based on a moral and political consensus that protecting the health of citizens, and keeping them from what can be avoided in the trauma of illness and death, is one of the major responsibilities of the Society as a whole. Therefore, the State ensures that everybody is protected and people consider it to be in charge of controlling the quality of the health system and of regulating all its private and public players, including corporations which must contribute equally to it. The results: 100% people covered (see CMU), for a cost 30 or 40% inferior to America's (11,1% of GNP vs. more than 14% in the US) and with better results (see better ratios : life expectancy, infantile mortality, obesity, etc). The French are astonished when they are told that more than 40 million Americans have no health coverage (and even more no dental coverage). Being worried about the health bill does not

exist in France. The social consensus is: "it is sad enough to be sick and one must not have an additional money problem about it". Saying "it is socialized medicine, therefore bureaucratic and inefficient" is ridiculous and wrong: look at the facts! See the WHO ranking : France comes first and read a column in the IHT ("French Lesson"), read my (chauvinistic) point of view about it and my column "socialized medicine : give me a break"..

Economic factor Paris is one of the engines of the global economy. In 2007 the GDP of the Paris Region as calculated by INSEE was US$731.3 billion at market exchange rates.[2] If it were a country, in 2007, the Paris Region would be the 17th largest economy in the world, with an economy nearly as large as that of the Netherlands.[3] In 2009, an Internet survey also rated Paris as one of the world's most expensive cities in which to purchase goods and services.[4] Although in terms of population the Urban area of Paris is only approximately the 20th largest urban area in the world, its GDP is the fiftht-largest in the world, just before London, and after the urban areas of Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago The Paris economy is extremely diverse and has not yet adopted a specialization inside the global economy (unlike Los Angeles with the entertainment industry, or London and New York with financial services). Today it is essentially a service economy, with business and financial services generating nearly half of the Paris Region's GDP Its manufacturing base has declined since its pre-1970s heyday, generating now less than 10% of the region's GDP, Even though the Paris Region still remains one of the manufacturing powerhouses of Europe due to the sheer size of

its economy, with a shift from traditional to high-tech manufacturing. Insurance issue

medical issue

Medical Care

Medical care in France is one of the best in the world. Hospitals, clinics, and doctors offices offer modern, well equipped, and comfortable medical experiences. France has always been one of the leaders in health care, and getting coverage and finding medical care in almost any region is usually easy to do. Most U.S health insurers will reimburse expats who are travelling abroad. French companies that employ expats will provide health insurance for them. The French government provides an 85% medical care subsidy for its citizens. Healthcare in France is much more affordable for expats than it is in the US. Expats who are not employed in France but want health insurance should purchase travel medical insurance. It costs about $3 a day and covers serious injuries, illnesses, and hospitalization. Additionally, there is usually a provision for evacuation.