The article discusses budgetary errors in key French sectors like education, police, and healthcare over the past 50 years, challenging the notion of insufficient funding often cited in debates. IEM members Pierre Bentata and Nicolas Marques analyse public spending curves, revealing a different narrative about resource allocation in these domains, suggesting a misalignment between budgetary increases and actual effectiveness.

Cécile Philippe, President of the IEM and columnist for Echos described how after years of decreasing investment, an explosion in energy prices and detrimental tariffs has forced nuclear energy to begin a resurgence. Despite Germany still resisting, nuclear reactors are currently being built in 20 countries.

Fundalib (The Foundation for the Advancement of Freedom) were featured in an El Mundo Financiero article last month covering their new book proposing five proposals to recover economic freedom in Spain. The book discusses essential reforms for the agricultural and energy sectors, lifestyle regulations, taxes and the pension system. They offer holistic approaches and specific policies drawing on lessons learned from other sectors and countries.

The article delves into the shift from regulated to free-market energy supply in Italy, focusing on gas and electricity. It highlights that from January for gas and July for electricity in 2024, the regulated market will only remain applicable to domestic customers deemed ‘vulnerable,’.

The article discusses the significant lag in Greek schools concerning their digital equipment, internet connectivity, and digital culture compared to the European average. The main conclusion of a policy brief by the Center for Liberal Studies (KEFiM) highlights the challenges, including limited Information and Communication Technologies usage and opportunities for educators to develop relevant skills.

The article addresses the problematic drug policy framework in Greece, as indicated by a policy brief from the Center for Liberal Studies (KEFiM). It highlights issues such as the overburdening of the judicial system due to the criminalization of light narcotics and proposes reforms, including a clear definition of such narcotics and legal sales to control supply networks and fund health initiatives.

The study by the Center for Liberal Studies (KEFiM) underscores the potential benefits of decriminalising light narcotics in Greece. The lack of a clear distinction between light and hard drugs burdens the judicial and correctional system, with over one in five detainees in Greece held for drug-related offences, emphasising the need for alternative approaches, from mild criminal penalties to complete decriminalisation.

The study, conducted by IEM, reveals that France’s inefficiency in education and training costs €16 billion annually, ranking 14th out of 30 European countries in primary and secondary education spending effectiveness. The analysis suggests that greater autonomy for institutions, improving training-to-employment alignment, and addressing hidden costs in personnel management could enhance the system’s efficiency.

The article, coauthored by Nicolas Marques of IEM, argues that French policy tends to address issues superficially rather than tackling underlying problems systematically, citing retirement as a prime example of this approach. It emphasises the need for a more holistic approach to reform, recognising that retirement intersects with various other societal challenges.