Simon Porcher, a professor of management at Paris Dauphine University, has warned that rising water prices in France could lead to social unrest similar to the 'yellow vest' movement. In an interview, Porcher highlighted that water bills have increased significantly over the past decade, putting pressure on low-income households.
According to a report by the French water information center (Cieau), the average price of water rose by about 2.5% per year between 2008 and 2019, outpacing inflation. Porcher argues that further increases, driven by the need to upgrade aging infrastructure and meet environmental standards, could exacerbate inequalities.
He suggests that the government and local authorities should consider social tariffs or other measures to protect vulnerable consumers. The 'yellow vest' protests, which began in 2018 over fuel tax hikes, were partly fueled by perceptions of unfair taxation and rising living costs.
