The proposal triggered a strike that shut down the city for a day -- and frightened Sarkozy into surrender . Paris is suffering from a world - famous taxi shortage , says David Frum . Despite attempts at improvement , the number of taxis has risen only 14 % since 1937 , he says . Europe 's economic crisis is embodied in France 's failure to solve this problem , he says . Frum : France 's anti - competitive rules that prevent competition are an economic burden .
Paris is suffering from a world - famous taxi shortage , says David Frum . Despite attempts at improvement , the number of taxis has risen only 14 % since 1937 , he says . Europe 's economic crisis is embodied in France 's failure to solve this problem , he says . Frum : France 's anti - competitive rules that prevent competition are an economic burden .