EPICENTER

The report by Nicolas Marques, Director General of the IEM, highlights the deep crisis in retirement savings across Europe, particularly in France, due to reliance on the pay-as-you-go system. With an increasing demographic imbalance, transitioning to a three-pillar retirement system including capitalisation, as suggested by the World Bank in 1994, is emphasised as a necessary step for resilience.

The report by Nicolas Marques, Director General of IEM, highlights a deep-seated retirement savings crisis in Europe, particularly in France, where the deficit in retirement savings reached 32% of annual GDP in 2021, amounting to a loss of €80 billion. The report suggests implementing collective capitalization for all private sector employees, similar to the model followed by some public sector employees like pharmacists, as a solution to enhance retirement savings and address the systemic issue.

The Journal of Public Administration presented findings from The Liberal Institute advocating for the complete elimination or significant reduction of agricultural subsidies in the Czech Republic, redirecting EU subsidies towards greater automation and robotics in Czech agriculture to boost productivity. Authored by economist Jan Šincl, the report is part of a coordinated EPICENTER effort.

The article by Carlo Stagnaro, Director of Istituto Bruno Leoni examines how Italian politicians and media outlets have portrayed the liberalisation of the electricity market, contrasting various viewpoints. It clarifies the upcoming changes in the energy market, highlighting the role of competitive bidding for new electricity suppliers, aiming to provide improved conditions for approximately 5 million non-vulnerable domestic customers.

Following Poland’s 2023 elections, our director, Adam Bartha, commented in Expresso on what Donald Tusk’s return signifies. In it, Adam argued that an opportunity has arisen for Poland to strengthen its European leadership amidst challenges in the EU. Therefore, Tusk must prioritise liberalising reforms, preserving the rule of law, and maintaining a pro-EU, pro-NATO foreign policy.

Recently, Otto, head of economic research at CEPOS, authored an article in Greece’s ‘Liberal’ media outlet. The piece delves into the crucial topic of gender equality, explored through the lens of Nobel Prize in Economics winner Claudia Goldin. In it, Otto emphasises our commitment to safeguarding liberal values in the face of calls to ‘positively’ discriminate in labour markets.

The French outlet, ‘Le Point’, recently unpacking findings from the 2023 edition of the Nanny State Index. In the article, the author showcased the main findings from the report, showcasing how various European states are finding more ways to regulate what their citizens can eat, drink, smoke, and vape.