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France Considers Open Source

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the save-a-franc-or-two dept.

joestar writes "Reuters today announced that the French Government is considering Open Source Software adoption as an excellent alternative to reduce their IT costs. A cost reduction of several hundred millions dollars is planned by replacing proprietary licenses by Open-Source solutions. 'Microsoft must return to being one supplier to the state among others', declared a government Minister. France's culture, agriculture and finance ministries had already signed deals with Mandrakesoft for first Linux deployment tests. After Munich's new move in Germany, it seems that Open Source Software is currently a major movement in old Europe."

1 of 370 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Europe vs. America by JohnGrahamCumming · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Right, and that's based on a single report by a "free market think tank" as interpreted by the WSJ.

    I much more informed view of "Europe vs. USA" can be found in the current Economist. There's a multi-page special on the subject that boils down to:

    1. USA has higher GDP/capita than EU, but
    2. USA and EU have similar GDP/capita growth rates (in fact the same if you eliminate Germany which is having to cope with unification). How about the US tries merging with South America?
    3. GDP/work hour is similar in USA and EU
    4. US citizens have higher disposable income than EU citizens because US citizens work 40% more hours, i.e. EU citizens have same productivity than US, but work less hours, hence lower GDP/capita. Or to put it another way EU citizens have traded GDP/capita for leisure time, US citizens work much more and hence buy more stuff (TVs, cars, ...)

    So there's no fundamental difference in GDP/work hour or productivity between the two federations. Europeans just take more time off, which might have a lot to do with the better health and better life expectancy in the EU. US citizens work like crazy and hence can afford houses stuffed with electronics, appliances and multiple cars.

    I assume, Anonymous Coward, that you are a US citizen, perhaps you'd like to spend some of your disposable income buying the article here: http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory .cfm?Story_ID=2765877

    John.