[testacct22]

> But stability deteriorated elsewhere. Striking workers in Greece, pension protests in France and deadly clashes in Israel and Peru reduced scores in those countries.

???

Who is this list meant for? Seems kind of odd to penalize France because of pension protests

Am an American so might be lacking details, but my understanding is that Macron decided to raise the retirement age which was highly unpopular, and people were pissed off because of it? How do those protests make France "less livable"? If anything, it makes it more livable by my book.

Seems like Economist is just airing political grievances. Usually whenever I see these lists (e.g. "livability index", "democracy index", etc), the list maker shuffles around the top 10-20 countries in order to grind some political axe

[leoedin]

Strikes in European countries can be very inconvenient. I work with a mix of British, French and Belgians, and trying to coordinate visiting one another without a rail strike in one of those countries has been very challenging in the last year.

[philippgerard]

Burning cars on the street would sure affect the livability in my neighborhood. The French are passionate people when protesting. And they protest a lot. Makes sense to me to me to mention it. It’s not about the right to assemble, otherwise I’m sure Hong Kong would be on the first spot on the list.

[badpun]

> Burning cars on the street would sure affect the livability in my neighborhood.

Especially if it's my car. If these guys want to burn property so badly, why don't they bring their own cars to the area and burn them, in a sort of political protest burning man fashion?

[expertentipp]

If they touch police's or public administration's property, their professional and family lives will be over. No one will torch their own property, duh. So basically you hit the next person you see, ensuring beforehand they're not police or someone well connected.

[csomar]

The French regularly burn police cars though.

[jhoechtl]

If Europe is going to be saved it will be from French and Polish people. All others sold their esteem to cosy couch surfing and not talking to your neighbor.

I am one of these suckers.

[kortilla]

Strikes meant to disrupt the public do so by causing inconvenience. Regardless of whether or not you support the cause, it’s still inconvenient.

[expertentipp]

Have you ever worked with French people? If they decide to be abrasive assholes, they will go extra mile to prove it. Somehow it equally applies to both white and Maghreb French.

[ihateolives]

> Have you ever worked with F̶r̶e̶n̶c̶h̶ people? If they decide to be abrasive assholes, they will go extra mile to prove it.

Fixed it for you. Source: have worked with people.

[expertentipp]

This is only tiny spectrum of attitudes. Some people pass, give up, walk away, sue.