[dopidopHN]

Exactly. Yes my salary in France was more than half my salary in the US.

But a very large chuck of the difference are “cotisations” a word that does not exists in English and is often inaccurately translated to “taxes”.

Those cotisations is money I will get back once old, sick, or un-employed. It can’t be spend on buying new fighter jet or fixing the roads.

[wil421]

That’s the same as social security and Medicare “cotisations” except we just call them taxes. There’s also unemployment but I believe it’s by state and comes out of your states income tax, if they have one.

[dopidopHN]

I find the difference between cotisations and taxes meaningful.

Specially in a context where one side of the political spectrum is constantly pushing to reduce the tax burden. Cotisations can be set aside in that discussion ( because, they are not taxes, you are guaranteed to see the money back in a specific and personal way )

Another difference is that French folks rely and plan to use the equivalent of Medicaid more. Here; my understanding is that it’s a nice bonus. ( I might be wrong )