Web Hosting Service Fundamentals Explained

web hosting companiesOne of the necessities for a person who wants to establish their names or brand on the internet is a website.

For one to own a website, he or she must find a web hosting service provider to house his or her blog. Without it, the site will just not exist. If you can discover one that offers excellent service at a reasonable cost, then you should look into their business further to check if their packages are for you.

Hosting providers allow webmasters different access to several resources to make their websites successful. This makes it easier and simpler to run sites and online businesses with the least amount of downtime as possible. Aside from strategizing one’s website, it is also essential to get a hosting service that is both reliable and trustworthy.

The very first step that one ought to undertake before selecting the best internet hosting service, either for a small company or private sites, is to register a domain name.

Some providers allow you to create your domain name with them, but there are also other companies to choose from. Try to think about your preferred domain name through and stick to this as long as possible. Make sure that it falls under the categories of your chosen niche to prevent any issues later on in the future.

A web hosting provider that offers a Linux-based server is often the attractive option as Linux supplies a wide array of software selection. Before you choose a plan with a hosting service provider, you have to make sure that you know the requirements your website needs. These include your budget, type of server and the amount of expected traffic your site is going to receive.

Below are three of the most popular choices for hosting a website:

Shared Hosting. If your site is still new or it does not require a lot of traffic, you can choose shared hosting. This is generally the type of hosting service selected from for start-up bloggers and smaller businesses.

Although there are some perks in choosing a shared hosting server, one of the downside here is that it won’t give you a unique IP address. Downtime is also very likely, especially when one of the webmasters in your server receives a high traffic.

Dedicated Hosting. A dedicated hosting is often preferred especially when you plan on building a site that will require a lot of traffic. By choosing this type of hosting service, you are leasing the entire server for yourself.

The advantage here is that you have the server to yourself and will most likely experience little to no downtime. However, if you are not tech-savvy, this option might be difficult to work with as it will require more software control from the webmaster.

Virtual Private Server. A VPS is like a fusion between shared and dedicated. More than one people are acquired in the operating system, but each webmaster gets his or her own RAM.

This permits a webmaster to have total control over the site management and also provides the freedom to perform advanced software development. On top of this, VPS experiences less downtime as well. It can even handle moderate traffic.

The Steps You Need To Take
Online hosting services nowadays are getting more popular as the area of technology keeps growing and enhancing the way businesses are operating. Before you choose a host, analyze what your web hosting requirements are.

You also have to think about the budget and the services you do not need. Make sure that the hosting service company you are eyeing provides services that fit the specific operating system and that they should have packages that fulfill your budget plan.

They should also be able to offer you excellent quality customer service in the event of system failure. Remember that that hosting service providers may also experience downtimes, and you need to be mindful of its frequency in regards to this.

A web hosting service provider needs to be in a position to monitor round the clock to be confident that this is less likely to happen. As they are responsible for housing and giving you space to upload images, videos and other files associated with your website.

Lastly, they are also responsible for making sure that your website stays accessible to people who typed and searched your domain.

Since these aspects are critical in achieving online success, you need to screen the hosting providers you are considering thoroughly and determine which one you should choose.…

The Perks Of Online Shopping

The Internet has changed the world beyond recognition in less than one generation, and shopping is without a doubt a business where much change has occurred because of the Web.

With the popularity of the e-commerce companies like Amazon, eBay and Alibaba, many people nowadays know the benefits they can get from shopping online compared to traditional shopping.

After all, it allows consumers to directly buy products and services from an online seller, without leaving their homes, and often at a much lower price. So why going to a brick and mortar tore after all?

But what exactly are the main reasons why people love to shop online so much? Here are the top perks listed below.

The Prices Are A Lot Cheaper

Most stores need to increase their prices to be able to pay for the establishment’s rent and employee wages. However, online sellers lower their prices simply because they do not need to pay for these.

Consumers mainly choose to buy stuff online because they want to find the same product for a cheaper price. Sellers understand this and will reduce their profit margin. In addition, since it is so easy to browse through dozens of websites and compare the best price, many online stores will compete with the cheapest offer to sell their stuff.

They Offer Buyer Protection Features and Money Back Guarantee

Reputable e-commerce websites ensure their buyers have the protection they want when buying goods online. These types of buyer-seller protection also motivate people to buy from their site.

Sometimes, sellers will have to give your money back if they do not deliver your purchases on time. Although this may not be the case if there are occurring uncontrollable circumstances such as storms, earthquakes, and other force majeure, you can still get a refund when you received a damaged item.

Product and Delivery Customizations and Freebies

There are times when online stores treat their deliveries as if it were a gift to win a customer over. People are often excited to open their parcels for the first time, and the thrill of receiving a well-packaged and customized packaging is beyond satisfying.

At times, online stores will also include a freebie just because they want to make a good impression. Sellers like these often get more loyal customers compared to stores that do not pay attention to personal touches and details.

Shopping Privacy

There are some customers who feel embarrassed or awkward when buying private and sensitive products such as lingerie. Online shopping alleviates this feeling because there is no one technically watching over you when you buy what you want or need. It makes the shopping experience more private and comfortable.

Prevents Overspending

More often than not, people overspend whenever they go to a mall to buy one thing. This happens because some sales ladies can be very persuasive in marketing the products they want to sell.

Online shopping relieves the buyers from this kind of pressure. Since no one is there to compel you to buy anything that you do not really need, it is less likely that you will shop compulsively.

No Closing Hours

The fact that online stores run 24/7, you can buy whatever you want and need at any time of the day. Online stores will always include a full and detailed description of what their products are.

This helps answer the questions of many of their shoppers without the need of contacting the seller. It is also possible to buy what you need at the eleventh hour as most reputable companies offer same-day deliveries.

For consumers who cannot conveniently shop for what they need, they turn to online stores. Since all you have to do is go online and select the product you want to buy, then wait for it to be delivered, you do not waste time going to a store anymore.

There is no need to dress up and drive to your favorite shop when you can simply find the products you need online. Plus, your purchases always arrive on your doorstep.…

5 Singular Reasons Why Yoga Is Addictive

Yoga is a popular ascetic and spiritual discipline that teaches you simple meditation, breathing techniques and carry out specific body poses to promote health improvement, relaxation and overall wellness.

In the year 2012, The Yoga Journal had reported that there are over 20 million people practicing yoga in the United States alone. In addition, its popularity has made it a major commercial industry – from offering private yoga classes in studios to selling yoga designer clothings or yoga mats. It has certainly peaked the interest of many Americans

Below are five singular reasons why more people are becoming addicted to this activity.

Requires No Fitness Expertise

Yoga has many different styles and intensity levels. For people who have made yoga a daily ritual, there are hardcore styles and techniques that only the advanced regulars can perform.

However, if you want yoga to be more of a relaxation outlet, there are styles for this as well. As you continue to include yoga to your lifestyle, your flexibility, strength and lung capacity will improve thereby allowing you to perform the more advanced techniques in the future.

A study from U.C Davis states that your muscles respond well to stretching. They become larger and more capable of using oxygen at a faster rate. This means that practicing yoga will ultimately improve your strength, endurance and overall physical fitness.

It Works For Any Body Type

With all the brand advertisements and celebrity commercials related to yoga, it is easy to assume that it is a practice designed for slimmer people. But this assumption is in fact completely contrary to the true nature of yoga.

Yoga makes use of the “ahimsa” concept, this translates to “nonviolence”. When you commit to yoga, you also commit to ahimsa, which means you commit to never harm yourself physically.

This commitment does not just apply to your daily physical activities but also extends to the kind of poses you perform during yoga.

In general, it teaches you how to work with your body and be thankful for the things that your it allows you to do, whatever your physical condition or fitness level.

It Does Not Feel Like A Workout

Many people today use yoga not just to meditate but to get a good day’s workout. What makes it very appealing is that unlike going for a jogging, it provides a different workout output, as it is not a cardio workout. While improving your flexibility and building your muscles, it makes you more relaxed.

And because each session only takes an hour or less, it is a time-efficient workout for people who have busy schedules and limited time for exercising.

It Is Inexpensive

To get a more authentic yoga experience, it is preferable to enrol in a class. However, there are other ways for you to practice yoga without spending a dime.

You can find many free yoga videos online from different instructors. You can simply search them in Google or in Youtube. Once you know the basics of it, you can practice some yoga wherever and whenever you like, at no cost.

It does not require you to wear shoes or any specific type of clothing at all. All you need is a yoga mat and you are set.

Relaxed Feeling

Some people are looking for a runner’s high, while other people prefer a more relaxed work out. Though it starts out to be a mellow, the different poses in yoga allows you to stretch your tense muscles while toning them.

Since yoga brings out a more peaceful feeling, this factor makes it appealing for people who are stressed and on the brink of a burnout.

The mental and physical benefits you get from yoga is quite amazing, it can even help with depression. By consistently attending classes or simply doing it at the comfort of your own home, you will surely find yourself rapidly getting addicted to it too.…

Arthritis and Sjogren’s Syndrome

yoga poseThis disease is often an unwelcome companion to rheumatoid arthritis or other rheumatic diseases, but it can also appear on its own. Ninety percent of people with Sjogren’s syndrome are women, and their average age is 50.

Fortunately, it progresses slowly, and doesn’t fully develop for as long as 10 years after it starts. Sjogren’s is an autoimmune condition in which immune cells attack three glands in your body. Called exocrine glands, they normally produce saliva, sweat, and tears.

With Sjogren’s, they go haywire and don’t work as they should, thus drying out your eyes, mouth, and other areas.

Symptoms. You may feel as if you have something like a grain of sand stuck in your eye, and your eyes may itch and burn. They also may be more sensitive to light. You may have mouth troubles, too: difficulty chewing and swallowing dry foods, small sores on your tongue or lips, and a burning sensation. Food may taste different than it used to. And, because you produce less saliva, which normally helps clean debris from your mouth, you’ll be more prone to cavities.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will suspect Sjogren’s syndrome because of your primary symptoms: dry eyes and mouth. She will do some detective work, such as checking your medications and asking you about over-the-counter products you may have been using, to find out if there’s another likely cause of your symptoms. She may then run a test called the Schirmer test to check how much tears and saliva you produced.

Seven people out of ten with Sjogren’s will have rheumatoid factor, so she shall probably test for that and possibly other antibodies as well. Blood tests may also called leukocutes in the blood.

Treatment

The usual approach is to try to replace the fluids you are lacking primarily by using artificial tears for our dry eyes. To ease your dry mouth your doctor will recommend drinking plenty of water avoiding alcohol and possibly switching from medications that decrease saliva flow such as some high blood pressure drugs and certain antidepressants.

You shall need more frequent dental checkups and will need to avoid the sugary foods that cause cavities. You may also need moisturizing cream for your skin.

You cannot prevent most forms of this disease. But you certainly can reduce the risk of getting significant osteoarthritis and slow its development if you already have it primarily by controlling your weight. In one study, women who lost an average of 11 pounds reduced the development of osteoarthritis in their knees.

And those overweight women who lost the most improved the most, reducing their pain and other symptoms by half. Although obviously extra weight can strain major weight-bearing joints, such as knees and hips, another study suggested that extra weight also encouraged osteoarthritis in other joints. Possibly, too much body fat directly affects our cartilage, making those extra pounds more of an enemy than we thought.

You can also help reduce your risk of early osteoarthritis by protecting yourself from injuries, say from competitive contact sports or repetitive motions. If you’re a line backer or wrestler by profession, there’s not much you can do other than use protective padding and keep in tiptop shape. But the rest of us can take all reasonable precautions.

We should always keep our muscles strong to help support our joints, and in sports we should warm up carefully, use proper equipment such as the right shoes, and follow a balanced exercise program that keeps the whole body in shape rather than just parts of it. On the job and throughout the day, we can try to find ways to avoid nonstop repetitive motion, take breaks when possible, and, again, keep our muscles strong and limber.

Gout is triggered by high levels of uric acid, which comes from a substance called purines; people prone to gout can help protect themselves by limiting their intake of alcohol and foods high in purines. These include liver, kidneys, brains, and sweetbreads.

Lyme disease can be prevented only by avoiding tick bites and getting prompt treatment if bitten. And, as far as anyone knows so far, there is unfortunately no way to prevent rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies have indicated that sensitivity to certain foods can trigger rheumatoid arthritis attacks in a few people, but this is rare.…

The Battle Over Flat Belly and How to Win It

no stomach at allIs getting a flat belly your long time goal, never reached?

Thus if you are one of the people seeking a method to gain a flat belly after many years of struggle, know that you are not alone. This is not the most suitable situation to be in and many people suffer from obesity, the world over. This flat belly overnight is a dream that cannot happen as it takes some time to get it.

This article will bring to you all you need to know in addition to the immense advantages you stand to profit from really understanding the methodology for a flat belly in a short time. A beautiful shred belly is simply a couple weeks away in your have the endurance for it.

So while obtaining a flat belly may not be easy, it is necessary for your wellness. The flat belly for you program is among the very best program to lose weight you will ever encounter, made for all those of you who are keen in eliminating that added pounds out of your entire body. Possessing excess belly fat poses a significant danger to your well being, so keep on reading.

When it’s done routinely, it is likely to make your belly flat and you’ll have a more dynamic body. It’s a remarkable approach to cope with eliminating belly fat insanely quick. This solution can cause you to get rid of belly fat in a few weeks!

If you presently have any belly fat sitting before your stomach, you might be in danger of some life-threatening diseases like coronary diseases or cancer. If you’ve had trouble losing weight previously, it is most probably because your body is producing large amounts of this fat hidden store hormone and you probably never knew about it.

A flat belly method must not utilize tricks, but instead it should follow a protocol which can help you to save your life and remove the unhealthy belly fat. A flat belly program is not a detailed revolutionary guide, but simply using common sense methods.

Such a lean belly approach need to employ a distinctive strategy, which does not need an excessive amount of work. It has to reduce someone’s calorie intake without radically altering how they eat. A flat belly cannot be gained overnight so it is a rather detailed yet straightforward program to follow.

A good fitness protocol can do the job for both women and men. It is completely different from what you have been used to do. it is a great fat burning program that is followed by many folks to receive short-term and long-term added benefits. In general, it will produce the techniques for eliminating your belly fat for better, in a much simpler way than the usual manuals.

If you are interested, read next the basic facts of a flat belly. Everyone will slim down at various speed and just like with any program individual results might Vary. It’ll be helpful, if you believe it is, you’ll be in a position to try out a lot to slimming down. But note that the weight will return if you are not careful. Here we are talking about a complete lifestyle change. Following that idea, you can see this hopefully, and the total gain for your overall health is worth the effort.

You will feel happier realizing your belly fat has decreased the moment that you awake in the morning. Therefore, if you’re prepared to lose stomach fat from tomorrow morning and possess the flat stomach you truly desire, you’re likely required to take some action from this moment. Everyone would like to eliminate some belly fat and recent evidence has proven the unhealthy effects of extra belly fat.

Fat can appear in all types of places. Facial fat can be hard to eradicate. Consequently, you will shed fat there as well. Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol of any sort can boost belly fat, even though some research suggests wine may be an exception. So drink in moderation if you really want a flat stomach.…

Recent Changes in SEO in 2017

googleMany webmasters and online marketers have already adapted to the ever-changing behavior of the Google algorithm.

However, the changes this year have impacted website rankings and user experience more than ever.

We are not in the early stages of search anymore.

It is just appropriate that Google has made changes to serve both webmasters and users as they keep on improving their product.

Witnessing new trends and practices should be performed if you want to garner a spot on the first page of the SERPs.

Here are the most significant changes that could affect your ranking and user experience.

Mobile-First Index Taking Over

The use of smartphones has become a substantial contributing factor why Google has released their mobile-first index update. In fact almost every notable change they have introduced over the last year was relevant to the experience of mobile users.

This is how it works. When a mobile user searches for a query, Google will display the mobile results and not the desktop results. It means if your website is not optimized for mobile use, it will not rank well in the SERP for the smartphone user.

HTTPS Warning In Chrome

Google has now started warning users whenever they enter sites that are not HTTPS encrypted. Although this is happening, the user can still enter such a non https site and access the data in it if they want to. But the warning label from the browser exists to caution users when entering their sensitive information such as credit cards, passwords or even personal addresses.

This is not exactly new as Google has taken appropriate actions to warn users about sites without HTTPS encryption. However, this increase in security ensures authentication and provides data integrity. It means there is an assurance that the website you are trying to visit belongs to a real company. This update also puts more pressure on other webmasters to move to the HTTPS standard.

Increased Focus on Speed For Mobile Use

Many mobile users would agree that it is frustrating to wait for a page to load. Users want speed. To fight this issue, companies like Twitter, WordPress, Google and many others devised the AMP project or also called as the Accelerated Mobile Pages Project.

By applying AMP, you can create web pages that will render incredibly fast on smartphones. What it does is it creates a more lightweight duplicate of the original version of the page wherein HTML is stripped down and simplified.

Demand For Quality and Original Content

For years, Google has made its intent of, if not eradicating, at least cutting down on spammy content. If you look back, creating content usually revolves around the most relevant keyword you want to optimize for. Today, it is now essential to create meaningful and original content for users.

To produce the best content possible, you must look at three things – keywords, length, and comprehensiveness. The title should have the keyword, and the meta descriptions should be optimized to serve the users.

Google also looks at the length of the posts. It is essential that you cover the entirety of a topic for the post to rank well. Lastly, the posts should be comprehensive enough for the users. Conversational posts often encourage user engagement.

One thing we can expect from Google is that their algorithm will continue to change, with the new changes this year, nobody can tell what the next developments will be.…

The Science Of Numerology

PopeNumerology is the belief that numbers are mystically connected to various events in our lives. It also studies the numerical value of letters in various words such as names and places.

For instance, you can find out your destiny in life by calculating the number corresponding to your name. Each letter is assigned a figure, the figures in the sum are added once more, until you obtain one number that represents your personality, your destiny and your faith.

You can find the meaning of each number either online, on various divination and numerology websites or in specialty books. Your birth date can also be reduced to one single digit number that represents your character.

Some people guide their most important decisions in life by the principles of numerology. Most often than not, they also believe in astrology and in various divination forms, so they usually spend a small fortune on finding out what the destiny has in store for them. They always try to determine their compatibility with potential life partners by calculating their representative numbers, and by studying their characteristics.

Although there isn’t any hard evidence for such relationships between numbers and random events occurring during our lifetime, many people study history and try to discover such connections. Some of them invest a lot of effort in writing books that explain these theories in detail.

You can find enough free information online to calculate your personal number. What you do with it once you know it, depends on how inclined you are to believe in occult forces that rule our world and guide our destiny.

If you believe each of us have our own predestined path, assigned to us by a superior force, you risk to ruin your life by not taking action in the most important moments. Nonetheless, if you aren’t a fatalist, you can use numerology to your advantage.

You can consult the meaning of various dates and names, and use this information to make yourself an idea about people you come into contact with. You can choose to start a very important project on a date that’s supposedly lucky for individuals born under your number. This isn’t going to do you any harm for as long as you don’t get paralyzed with fear of acting outside your lucky days.

You may also find lots of websites that provide various numerology related services. Some of them are free to use, but others require you to pay a small fee, in order to obtain your personal report on your future and on your course of life.

Trying out such services can’t possibly harm you, provided that you pass everything you find out through the filter of your own thinking. Keeping a lucid mind can help you enjoy numerology, astrology and other so called pseudo-sciences.

A little dreaming does not hurt anyone, so allow yourself to be less skeptic every once in a while. Numerology can be fun, and its study can actually make a very interesting hobby or personal passion.…

Stress and menopause

beautiful womanOne aspect of the most difficult challenges of menopause is dealing using the ups and downs. Most women contending from menopause want to keep a balance. Some women with menopause cope using the annoyance of menopause tiredness because of preceding being types that have worn their physiques down. At this point their physiques are screaming out to become rejuvenated as well as they want a good rest.

Some women with menopause say that stress lets them to perform at their best. even when this can be true, putting large quantities of stress in your physique during menopause is not constantly a good idea. Menopause is not a quite easily controlled concern so dealing with it can be a quite hard task. But this will not recommend that you might possibly completely restrict your daily activities.

High stress might cause this tiredness to set in which leaves you tired and uninterested in daily activities. but when you at any time can restrict how a full lot stress you put in your physique then you definitely might possibly conquer the complications of menopause. Just because you have menopause doesn’t recommend you shouldn’t get out and have fun or treat yourself to a great day.

Sometimes back pain or knee pain can be a consequence of this tiredness. One remedy is to use natural turmeric curcumin, a dietary supplement based on the traditional Indian medicine. Recent scientific research showed that curcumin has a number of beneficial health properties, including relieving from pain and possibly cancer treatment. More studies are still needed to make a final conclusion about that, but many women with menopause and body pain have reported that it helped them decrease such pain.

Don’t experience straight down because some activities can gain reduce the tiredness you might possibly experience with menopause. Getting out and spending the morning at each and every morning spa is undoubtedly an good idea. Relaxing is often known as a great plan for women who endure from menopause because it gives them the chance to permit their physique relax away from your stress of daily life.

To enormously reduce the odds of menopause tiredness try to refrain from executing as well much; invite a friend more than for supper instead of heading out. Spending time with other people and or managing yourself appears to eliminate stress and ease the physique of any fatigue. So dont permit menopause get you straight down enjoy your being and never permit menopause stand in your way.

You can fight back versus it, take your being back and enjoy executing it. Isn’t it about time you need to do something for yourself? Reduce your odds of tiredness Relax and enjoy yourself in these times and have fun executing it. Rejuvenate your physique and you might possibly just experience better. You never must endure from menopause you contain the power to eliminate the annoying signs and symptoms of menopause and take your being back. Enjoy those identical daily activities without the trouble of menopause fatigue.

Enjoy the beauties belonging to the world without the tiredness because the world is out there and its the perfect time to experience the wonders of being without fatigue. So enjoy and rejuvenate your physique and take into consideration to become good to yourself because it’s about time. never you deserve it? Absolutely! You deserve to relax.…

The French Political System

France’s government has gone through many different changes and it is currently on its fifth Republic. The nation has declared itself to be indivisible, secular and democratic. The constitution of the country provides for a separation of powers, and gives all rights of man and national sovereignty as defined in the Declaration of 1789.

Today, the government of France is divided into an executive, legislative and judicial branch. The presidents of France shares their power with the Prime Minister, which they appoint. The cabinet, as well as the president, can be revoked by National Assembly, which is the lower house of Parliament. This is done through a censure motion that ensures the prime minister is always supported by the majority of the lower house.

The French parliament is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate. The parliament makes votes on the budget, it controls the action of the executive and it passes statutes. The statutes are then checked by the Constitutional Council, whose members are appointed by the president. These statutes must go along with the constitution in order to be passed.

Members for the council are also appointed by the president of the national assembly and the president of the senate. Interestingly enough, past presidents of France can actually be members of this council.

The judiciary system of France is based on civil law, which came from the Napoleonic codes. The judiciary branch of the government is divided into the judicial branch and the administrative branch. Each of these also have their own Supreme Court that is independent. The French government also includes various bodies that are meant to check for any abuses of powers by the government or its members, as well as any problems with independent agencies.

France is considered to be a unitary state. This means it is a state that is governed by one unit of central government that is supreme and handles all administrative divisions. The majority of countries in the world are unitary states. The United States by contrast is considered to be a federal state, in which power is shared by the federal government and the U.S. states.

In regards to the president, he or she must obtain power through a nationwide majority of non-blank votes on the first or second round of balloting. This ensures that the president is supported by over half of the voting population of France. The president is the top figure within French politics but they can be dismissed. The president also appoints the ministers, secretaries and ministers-delegate. If the political party of the president has control of parliament, the president is considered to be the dominant player in the government.

If the president’s opponents control the parliament, the president will see his dominance heavily limited since he or she must choose a prime minister and cabinet that reflects the parliamentary majority. When this happens, it is known as cohabitation and it has been quite common in French politics up until 2002.

This changed when the term of the president was previously seven years and is now five years. The terms in the National Assembly have always been five years. Now, elections are separated by only a few months. Currently, Francois Hollande is president of France, succeeding Nicolas Sarkozy, who took over from Jacques Chirac.

In the legislative branch of the government, parliament meets for one nine-month session each year. While the power of the branch has been lessened under the Fifth Republic, the National Assembly can still cause a government to fall but this has not happened since 1958. The cabinet of the legislative branch has a huge influence though in the agenda of the parliament. As well, members of parliament also have parliamentary immunity. This makes the members immune from most prosecutions. In order to prosecute, the immunity must be removed either by the Supreme Court or by the parliament itself.

The National Assembly in the legislative branch, is the principal body with 577 deputies elected every five years in local majority votes. All seats are voted in an election. Currently, the Socialist Party controls the majority of the seats in the National Assembly.

In the senate, senators are chosen by an electoral college of 145,000 local elected officials for five terms. Roughly 33 per cent of the Senate is renewed every three years. Currently, there are 321 senators, down from 346 in 2010. The legislative powers of the senate are limited since the National Assembly has the last word in disagreements between the two bodies of the legislative branch. …

What is happening with France

France is in decline! Or so it seems

This is a natural consequence of the demographic equation. As French population in relation to the world population slowly decreases while its GDP growth is around or slightly above zero, so does it commercial, economic and finally political weight decrease. Meanwhile large countries like India, China or Brazil have both population growth and strong GDP growth. Hence they become more and more prominent economically and ultimately politically.

But both the French people and the political class seem to be unaware of this simple equation leading to the slow but inevitable decline of France on the international scene. They still act as if France was a great nation as at the time of Louis the 14th or Napoleon Bonaparte. More worryingly they do not seem to realize that if they do not get their act together and try to reform and improve French competitiveness in key markets, this decline will be faster and more pronounced.

French is now the 5th largest country by GDP. Of course the USA is still the number one with a large margin over number two China. Next are Japan and Germany and the top 4 are not expected to change in the foreseeable future given the large difference in their GDP. But what France should be concerned about is the countries just behind it. The UK has more growth then France and it is close to surpassing it. Brazil currently number 6 and India number 9 are certain to surpass France soon given their rapid growth.

One more disadvantage France has against these rising nations is that they are not plagued with a long tradition of social welfare. We know that the communist system as envisioned by Lenin or Mao Zedong does not work as shown by history. Likewise a socialist system with generous unemployment and retirement benefits is not sustainable when competing with more aggressive countries. China, India or Brazil do not provide this kind of protection to their workers. So yes life is a little tougher for their people, but it is much easier for companies which are not burdened by labor laws and costs like the French do. And the workers themselves do not get lazy, which is good for the economy.

Because this is an old tradition in France, every class of workers has its privileges and they all go to the street at the first sign that the Government is considering removing some of these privileges. For example some Government employees can retire at 55 if not earlier. Note that France is a so-called etatist system with a very large involvement of the Government in many aspects of society. And they have about 5.5 millions government employees. All these people retiring earlier with large benefits must be paid by everyone else. With live expectancy reaching 85 years for women and 78 years for men, this is an immense cost for the economy.

No wonder taxes keep on rising for the past few decades. Such trend has recently reached a climax, leading to a flow of persons and companies leaving France for a better place like the UK or the USA. That`s why people say that London is one of the largest French cities, with over 400,000 French people living in the British capital.

So will France wake up to the challenge and change its outdated ways of managing the economy and work force. Only time will tell, but it seems it will get worse before it gets better.…