The cost of Europe’s way of life — health care, affordable education and a dignified retirement for all, through high social spending — is becoming unbearably high.

PARIS — Across Europe, and especially in France, the bill is coming due.

The cost of a signature brand of humanist economics — the so-called European way of life, offering health care, affordable education and a dignified retirement to all, through high social spending — is becoming unbearably high.