Returning home after years abroad can feel strangely disorienting — even more than leaving in the first place. Many expats describe it as a reverse culture shock: the systems you once found normal suddenly seem slow, rigid, or outdated. As France updates parts of its social security and administrative landscape, the voices of those who’ve lived in more fast-paced, hyper-digitalized countries offer a striking perspective on what these changes mean.
Below, we explore this shift through the eyes of one entrepreneur who believes Europe is struggling to keep up — and why reforms in social systems, digital services, and economic policy matter more than ever.
A Return Home That Feels Like Stepping Back in Time
Anyone who has lived outside Europe — in places like China, South Korea, or Japan — quickly notices the contrast. These societies run on collective discipline, efficiency, and lightning-fast services. From banking to medical care, the pace is astonishing, often supported by widespread digital tools that streamline daily life.
For many expats, coming back to Europe highlights a different reality: longer wait times, slower administrations, and a business climate that feels less bold. In sectors such as transport, customer service, and public administration, Europe can seem years behind Asia’s ultra-modern systems.
Spanish entrepreneur Adrián Díaz knows that feeling well. After launching new ventures in China and adapting to its relentless rhythm, returning home is jarring. “I stay fifteen days and I already want to leave again,” he told the podcast ConPdePodcast, as quoted by La Vanguardia. Conversations with friends seem unchanged from two decades ago — especially around the Spanish housing crisis, which continues to weigh heavily on younger generations.
China’s Momentum vs. Europe’s Stagnation
One point Díaz stresses is the difference in economic dynamism. China’s economy is still growing at around 4% — and even reached 5% in 2024, according to official national data. By comparison, Spain posted growth of 3.2% last year. For him, the gap in momentum is palpable.
Still, he doesn’t idealize China. He acknowledges that the country’s regulatory system is imperfect and that compliance often depends on local interpretation. “Everyone pays under the table there,” he says bluntly. “The government knows it, but cracking down would collapse entire sectors.”
That contrast highlights Europe’s own struggles: while China thrives in regulatory flexibility and rapid adaptation, Europe remains anchored in stricter frameworks. Those norms protect workers and uphold transparency, but they can also make the continent feel slow or resistant to innovation — especially in social services, taxation, and business regulations, all areas where France’s reforms now aim to simplify processes.
A Continent Searching for Balance
As France updates its social security rules, the broader question emerges: how can Europe preserve its protective systems while embracing economic agility?
Díaz’s experience isn’t a call to imitate China wholesale — far from it. Instead, it underscores the need to modernize administrative processes, improve digital public services, and encourage a culture of innovation. These changes directly affect how social security operates, how businesses thrive, and how young people envision their futures.
For Europeans returning from more fast-paced countries, the challenge is clear: reconciling the comfort of home with the awareness that much of the world is moving faster. And for policymakers, the message may be even clearer — adaptation isn’t optional.
France’s latest reforms are a step in that direction. The real test will be whether they mark the beginning of a broader shift toward a more agile, future-focused Europe.
