Will the French Have to Work Fewer Hours to Compete With Germany?

The NYT had an article comparing the relative success of Germany's economy compared with France. It notes that Germany has a considerably lower unemployment rate and stronger growth.

The article highlights France's stronger labor market protections as a factor explaining the different outcomes. In this vein, the article includes a quote from a German official that, "the French work to live and the Germans live to work."

The data suggest otherwise. In 2009, the most recent year for which data ...