On my travels, I’m allowed to read books that are not specifically about economics, and I’ve just finished Mavis Gallant’s [amazon_link id=”0241127122″ target=”_blank” ]Paris Notebooks[/amazon_link]. In it is a marvellous essay about the architectural and social damage done to Paris in the 1970s. And I found this comment about the large numbers of alienated and despised young people already living in the desolate estates in the Parisian outer suburbs – for obvious reasons it brought to mind our London ‘riots’:

“One wonders if any society is so rich in youth and strength and vivacity that it can afford such a waste.”

The first half of the book is her diary of the events of May 1968, and makes for gripping reading too.