PUBLIC FINANCE · 30% TARGET ·
What level of public spending is compatible with 30% compulsory levies?
Link the tax target to the actual size of government: spending, other public revenue and budget balance.
30% compulsory levies cannot finance 57.3% public spending
Total public revenue was 52.2% of GDP in 2025 while compulsory levies were 43.6%, a mechanical difference of 8.6 GDP points. If that other revenue share stayed unchanged and compulsory levies fell to 30%, total revenue would be about 38.6% of GDP.
This is not a final accounting target. But it establishes the consistency constraint: a France with durable 30% compulsory levies must also have public spending representing a much smaller share of national output.