The Institut Montaigne is a French think tank founded by Claude Bébéar in 2000, with the aim to promote both competitiveness and social cohesion and to help shape public policy to improve both economic and social environments in France. Based in Paris, the Institut Montaigne brings together leaders from civil society, industry, university, and public administration, fosters independent thinking on policy matters and explores ideas free from any economic or political preconceptions.
Contents
Research
The Institut Montaigne concentrates on four policy fields:
The Institut Montaigne is also involved in promoting innovative democratic platforms. In 2011, the think tank led an ambitious research program under the supervision of Gilles Kepel on the suburban cities of Clichy-sous-Bois and Montfermeil where the 2005 riots sparked. The findings were published in “Banlieue de la République”. This work was later completed by “Passion française”, a political essay based on a series of interviews conducted in Roubaix and Marseille to meet candidates of foreign origin who ran for the 2012 legislative elections.
The Institut Montaigne feeds the public debate by providing accurate data and assessment tools. During the 2012 presidential campaign, the Institut Montaigne forecasted the budgetary impact of the main candidates’ programs. A similar initiative was undertaken for the 2014 municipal campaign in France’s ten largest cities.
The Institut Montaigne also developed the first serious game dedicated to public finances, allowing players to understand how budgetary and macroeconomic policies impact the French public deficit and the national debt.
The Institut organizes political forums were ordinary citizens are invited to draft new policies. For instance, in 2012, the Institut Montaigne held a citizen’s conference on the French health system. A panel of 25 participants selected on several representative criteria was informed the functioning of the health system and the major it is confronted with. After a series of workshops, the panel released a report in which it stated its main policy proposals.
Activities
The Institut Montaigne expresses concrete policy proposals to enhance both competitiveness and social cohesion. The ideas are conveyed through four types of publications:
Board of directors
Orientation Committee
The Orientation committee provides guidance about the major social transformations; expresses its opinion about the work of the think tank; and develops partnerships and institutional relations in France and abroad.
Permanent staff
Laurent Bigorgne has been the director of the Institut Montaigne since 2011. 15 permanent members of staff work there.