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The burdens facing French food
Consider the value-added taxes that were "harmonized" all over Europe during the 1990s. They benefit fast-food chains, since the tax on takeaway is only 5.5 percent, while they penalize sit-down restaurants, whether humble bistros or haute cuisine, which pay 19.6 percent. When President Jacques Chirac ran for re-election in 2002, he promised to reduce the tax, but such is the nature of the new Europe that all 25 countries will have to approve the measure for it to take effect—in 2006.
That's just the beginning, here is the full story. Thanks to Michael at the ever-excellent 2blowhards.com for the link.
On the brighter side, here is a video of a French chef serving cicadas.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on May 21, 2004 at 07:29 AM in Food and Drink | Permalink
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» Cicadas from Advisory Opinion
I was in D.C. a few weeks ago and the reappearance of the cicadas was all the buzz. (Sorry, I couldn't help it.) Now, via Marginal Revolution, you can watch a French chef preparing and eating cicadas. "Just like softshell [Read More]
Tracked on May 21, 2004 1:55:03 PM
» VAT Harmonization in the EU from Tim Worstall
The bottom line, as Tyler is so fond of saying, is that there is no tax harmonization in the EU. There is, however, harmonization of who to and how you can grant a tax break, a very different thing. [Read More]
Tracked on May 22, 2004 6:27:51 AM
