Institut Montaigne

The French "pay-as-you-go" pension system is in substantial and growing deficit. This is the consequence of the obsolescence of the system, which is simultaneously archaic, opaque and inequitable. It is nevertheless possible to return to equilibrium. France can learn from other countries that have successfully achieved structural reform. Read more

Report - June 2010

Half a century after the wave of independence in 1960, globalisation is demanding a rethinking of relations between France and Africa. It is time to reinvent "co-development", a concept from the 1980’s that has not so far proved very convincing. The meaning given to it by the Institut Montaigne is that of partnership between Africa and France, with the aim of accelerating growth for both partners. Read more

Briefing Paper - May 2010

The French health system can justifiably be proud of good performances in a certain number of fields, so much so that it is often regarded as being one of best in the world. However, it is subject to numerous and worrying weaknesses, as regards not only its financial sustainability but also the quality of patient reception and equity of access to care. In-depth reform thus appears as a pressing need if the benefits already achieved are to be preserved. Read more

Report - April 2010

The failure rate in schools is very worrying for our country and occurs at a very early stage. The High Council for Education (Haut Conseil de l’Education) was already saying in 2007 that  ‘Four out of ten school children, i.e. around 300,000 pupils leave primary school with serious gaps in their knowledge: almost 200,000 of them have weak reading, writing and arithmetic ability, and over 100,000 have no command of the basic skills in these subjects.’ Read more

Policy Paper - February 2010

The deterioration of European public finances and the difficulties experienced by certain countries (notably Greece, but also Portugal and Spain) are raising fears about the future. How can Europe react and how can the present divergent policies be coordinated? There is much at stake: following the de facto breakdown of the Stability and Growth Pact, what is needed is to promote a new convergence strategy.   What the Institut Montaigne is proposing is the creation of a "Eurobond”. Read more