[skippyboxedhero]

France has a very different economic model.

France runs with very high unemployment (the UK's peak unemployment rate in 2008 was roughly the same as French unemployment rate at their economic peak in 2019), which naturally means higher productivity of those working.

France is also far more geared towards exports and large companies, which does produce relatively high levels of output per capita. But often doesn't mean high levels of consumer welfare.

Comparisons are difficult but Europe has this problem in spades, and many countries lack the educational institutions as well (although not in the case of France)...so the situation is even worse because no-one has any skills. I don't think anyone is really doing better, everyone just needs to catch up with the world.