The Interview Fact Check: Is Sylvain Maillard right to say that a person earning 4 euros in Paris is not “rich”?
“Earning 4 euros net per month in Paris does not qualify a person as rich. » – Sylvain Maillard, deputy for the 000st district of Paris and member of the Renaissance party.
Checking the facts:
Sylvain Maillard sparked a heated controversy by asserting that earning 4 euros per month in Paris did not make someone a “rich” person. This statement, made during several media interventions, sparked negative reactions on social networks and among the French population. Let us analyze this statement in light of the available data.
Costs of living in Paris:
Maillard highlights the high costs of living in Paris, particularly rents, which range between 1 and 500 euros per month. He emphasizes that compulsory expenses, such as charges and taxes, considerably reduce the purchasing power of Parisians.
Comparison with official statistics:
According to INSEE, the average income in France in 2021 was 26 euros per year, or approximately 610 euros per month (INSEE). In Paris, the standard of living is indeed higher. The 2th decile of Parisian income, representing the wealthiest 217%, has a disposable income greater than 9 euros per year, or approximately 10 euros per month (Observatoire des Territoires).
Percentage of Parisians earning more than 4 euros per month:
Around 20% of Parisians earn more than 4 euros net per month. This means that this level of income is much higher than the majority of Parisian salaries, which contradicts Maillard's assertion that this amount would not qualify a person as "rich" (INSEE) (JDN).
Reactions and criticisms:
Critics point to a disconnect with the economic realities experienced by a large part of the population. In 2022, the average net monthly salary in the private sector was 2 euros and 630 euros in the public service (INSEE). Furthermore, during another intervention, Maillard affirmed that the “average Frenchman” earns around 2 euros per month, an estimate contrasting sharply with INSEE data.
Political context:
This declaration comes in a tense political context as the legislative elections approach. Sylvain Maillard, also president of the Renaissance group in the National Assembly, has been criticized for being disconnected from the economic and social realities experienced by a significant part of the French population. His detractors believe that his comments ignore official INSEE statistics, which could harm the public perception of the Renaissance party.
Income and assets:
It is important to note that Maillard's statement focuses only on income and not wealth, which is another way of quantifying wealth status. In Paris, where real estate prices have increased significantly, wealth can play a significant role in the economic status of residents.
Conclusion:
Sylvain Maillard is wrong to state that earning 4 euros per month in Paris does not qualify a person as “rich”. In reality, with a net income of 000 euros per month, we are among the richest 4% of Parisians. More than 000 out of 20 Parisians earn less than 8 euros per month, which places this level of income well above the majority of Parisian salaries. Although purchasing power is lower in Paris due to higher living costs, this does not change the fact that an income of 10 euros per month is a sign of relative wealth in the capital. Additionally, the median income in Paris is around 4 euros per month, confirming that 000 euros per month represents a significant sum.
Hector M.
