France Considers Ending Pension Inflation Link
Listen to the story
The French government has a new plan for retirement pensions. Today, pensions go up with inflation. Inflation means prices go up over time. When prices go up, the government also raises pensions. This helps retired people keep their money strong.
Now, the government wants to stop this system for some people. This is called desindexation. It means pensions will not go up with inflation anymore. Not everyone will be affected the same way.
The government is looking at three different rates. A rate is a number that shows how much something changes. Different groups of retirees may get different rates.
Many people do not agree about this plan. Some think retirees should help pay for the country's money problems. Others think this plan is not fair to older people. This is a big debate in France now.
A debate is when people talk about different ideas. This debate about pensions is important. It will affect many retired people across France.
Vocabulary15 words
- inflation
- when prices go up over time
- desindexation
- stopping money from going up with prices
- rates
- numbers that show how much something changes
- debate
- when people talk about different ideas
- pensions
- money given to people after they stop working
- retirees
- people who have stopped working
- government
- the group of people who run a country
- finances
- money matters
- affected
- changed by something
- plan
- an idea for what to do
- system
- a way of doing something
- fair
- right and equal for everyone
- important
- very needed or serious
- groups
- sets of people
- money problems
- not having enough money
Quiz
Answer key
1. Prices go up over time 2. Pensions stop going up with inflation 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The French government has a new plan for retirement _____. Today, pensions go up with _____. Inflation means prices go up over time. When prices go up, the government also raises pensions.
Now, the government wants to stop this _____ for some people. This is called _____. It means pensions will not go up with inflation anymore.
The government is looking at three different _____. Different groups of retirees may get different rates.
Many people do not _____ about this plan. Some think retirees should help pay for the country's _____ problems. This is a big _____ in France now.