1. But this area is also that of the major expansion of the Welfare State: according to Eurostat, in 1992, France was the second European country after Denmark (31.4 per cent) in terms of level of public social spending: about 29 per cent of French GDP.
2. Indeed, centuries of conflict between the state and any form of intermediate bodies explain the strong centralization in France; the central government fought successively against: regional governments and religious minorities (Protestants and Jews) during the Old Regime, the corporations, and the Church and its congregations, which ran non-profit schools and hospitals until the 1789 Revolution, during the 19th century, the State fought against the labour movement and the political associations. It is only at the turning point of the 20th century, that the third sector ceased to be illegal, with the still-living 1901 Act. This historical sketch explains why most of the non-profit sector is relatively recent.
3. Three levels of local government exist in France: the communes—the town councils (about 36,000), the départements—the counties (96), and the régions (22).
4. Aide sociale is the term used for the social welfare money or in-kind transfers outside the Social Security scheme. It is based on the principle of assistance and proximity, as opposed to insurance on which social security schemes rely. It is financed by taxes and not by social contribution.
5. Which has received a transfer of funds.