Fondation pour la recherche sur les administrations et les politiques publiques

The Fondation pour la recherche sur les administrations et les politiques publiques, commonly known as iFRAP (and formerly the Institut français pour la recherche sur les administrations publiques), is a French think tank founded in 1985 by Bernard Zimmern. It was established as an association under the French law of 1901 and was recognized as being of public utility by a decree of Prime Minister François Fillon on 17 November 2009. The organization is widely described as a laboratory of ideas close to the liberal right and to the MEDEF, France's main employers' federation. iFRAP's stated mission is to conduct studies on the effectiveness of public policies — particularly those aimed at full employment and economic development — to publicize the results of those studies, to propose improvement measures, and to pursue all actions aimed at having the government and parliament implement the proposed measures. Its work focuses on public spending, taxation, the civil service and administration, education, health, and European and international comparisons. It publishes reports, studies, and a monthly magazine, Société civile, and runs a newsletter. The foundation is directed by Agnès Verdier-Molinié, who has led it since 2009 after serving as a research officer and head of institutional relations. Its board of directors is composed of three colleges representing the business world, the administration, and the associative sector; in 2018, nine of its eleven board members were businesspeople or heads of large companies. A scientific council of four members (university professors and senior civil servants) assists the board. The foundation has a small permanent team of six employees and draws on a network of about 150 researchers and contributors. Over the decades iFRAP has gained media visibility through investigations and reports on public bodies and spending, including a 1998 inquiry into the Conseil national des arts culinaires, a 2003 leak of an internal tax administration document, a 2005 special issue on the École nationale d'administration (ENA), and a 2008 study on tax niches. It has partnered with media outlets such as Le Figaro, RTL, and Le Point on projects including "50 idées pour économiser 50 milliards d'euros" (2014), "12 travaux pour relancer l'économie française" (2015), and a comparator of candidates' programs for the 2016 primaries. In 2017 it launched the Macronomètre, a weekly review of the macroeconomic impact of the Macron government's measures. Its positioning, private financing, and relations with economic and political circles have been the subject of debate and criticism.

The Fondation pour la recherche sur les administrations publiques (FRAP) was founded in 1985 as an association under the French law of 1901. Among its founders were Philippe Baccou, a former member of the Cour des comptes who later advised Marine Le Pen for the 2017 presidential campaign; Gérard-François Dumont, a demographer specializing in migration flows; Jean-Yves Le Gallou, a former Front national executive and co-founder of the Club de l'horloge; and Bernard Zimmern, also a member of the Club de l'horloge and co-founder of Contribuables associés. It was also known as the Institut français pour la recherche sur les administrations publiques (iFRAP). Initially, iFRAP was financed by Bernard Zimmern from his personal funds. The early years of iFRAP were difficult. Liberal ideas were perceived as politically extreme during the Mitterrand years, and it was only in the late 1990s that iFRAP gained visibility in the media. In 1998, iFRAP published an investigation into the Conseil national des arts culinaires (CNAC), revealing high spending, disguised subsidies, and funding for unfinished projects. In September 2003, iFRAP leaked an internal document from the Direction générale des Impôts revealing a bonus system still in place despite irregularities noted between 1999 and 2001, as well as special pension schemes at the RATP. In 2005, iFRAP published a special issue, Le dossier noir de l'ENA, painting a gloomy picture of elite training in France in the face of new economic realities; Nicholas Lecaussin, director of Société civile, iFRAP's magazine, then argued for the definitive closure of the ENA. In 2008, iFRAP published Niches fiscales : une solution d'avenir, a study arguing against the global cap on tax niches. iFRAP was recognized as being of public utility on 17 November 2009 by a decree of François Fillon, then Prime Minister. In 2014, iFRAP worked with Le Figaro, publishing a daily column, '50 idées pour économiser 50 milliards d'euros'. In December 2015, in partnership with Le Figaro and RTL, iFRAP launched the project '12 travaux pour relancer l'économie française'. iFRAP also participated in the '2017-2027' project of France Stratégie. In 2015, Emmanuel Macron, then Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, launched a consultation with about a dozen think tanks to evaluate his bill for growth, activity and equal economic opportunity, in which the iFRAP foundation participated. In 2016, the organization welcomed the 'loi El Khomri' on labor law reform: 'We do not have too many opportunities to rejoice in the government's initiatives not to recognize the courage with which it tackles a genuine reform of labor law.' In 2016, the iFRAP foundation launched, in partnership with Le Point magazine, a comparator of the programs of declared and supposed candidates for the 2016 primaries. In March 2017, the iFRAP foundation took a position in favor of François Fillon's economic program, which it considered the most effective. In December 2017, the iFRAP foundation launched the Macronomètre, a weekly review of the macroeconomic impact of government measures taken by the Macron government. In November 2018, iFRAP published a study according to which, following the 2015 regional redistricting, the total spending of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region increased by 17%. In September 2020, iFRAP proposed in a report solutions to exit what it considers the over-administration of health, suggesting, among other things, greater use of telemedicine. Regarding its functioning, the foundation's board of directors (nine of eleven members were businesspeople or heads of large companies in 2018) is composed of three colleges, each with four representatives from the business world, the administration, and the associative sector. It is assisted by a scientific council of four members (university professors and senior civil servants). The management determines the general policy of iFRAP and takes the necessary decisions for its implementation. Since 1985, the following people have held or hold the presidency: Bernard Zimmern (1985–2012), Olivier Mitterrand (2012–2014), and Jean-Claude Rouzaud (since 2014, former CEO of Champagne Louis Roederer). Since 2007, Agnès Verdier-Molinié has been director of the foundation after successively serving as research officer and head of institutional relations. Sandrine Gorreri is editor-in-chief of Société civile, iFRAP's monthly magazine. The foundation has a team of six permanent employees and is part of a network of 150 researchers and contributors.

• 2020

  Proposes solutions to over-administration of health, including greater use of telemedicine.

• 2018

  Publishes a study on the spending increase of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region after the 2015 redistricting.

• 2017

  Takes position in favor of François Fillon's economic program; launches the Macronomètre.

• 2016

  Welcomes the 'loi El Khomri'; launches a candidate program comparator with Le Point.

• 2015

  Launches '12 travaux pour relancer l'économie française' with Le Figaro and RTL; participates in Macron's consultation on the growth bill.

• 2014

  Jean-Claude Rouzaud becomes president; iFRAP publishes daily columns in Le Figaro: '50 idées pour économiser 50 milliards d'euros'.

• 2012

  Olivier Mitterrand becomes president (until 2014).

• 2009

  Recognized as being of public utility by decree of Prime Minister François Fillon on 17 November.

• 2008

  Publishes 'Niches fiscales : une solution d'avenir'.

• 2005

  Publishes the special issue 'Le dossier noir de l'ENA'.

• 2003

  Leaks an internal document from the Direction générale des Impôts revealing a bonus system and special pension schemes at RATP.

• 1998

  Publishes an investigation into the Conseil national des arts culinaires (CNAC).

• 1985

  Foundation created as an association under the French law of 1901 by Bernard Zimmern and others.

A liberal-leaning French think tank advocating reduced public spending, state and administrative reform, and a reorganization of certain taxes and public schemes; close to the liberal right and the MEDEF.

• Société civile (monthly magazine)

• Macronomètre (weekly review)

• Studies and reports on public spending, taxation, civil service, education, health

• Candidate program comparators

• Newsletter

1. 1Page d'accueil | Fondation IFRAPifrap.org
2. 2Fondation pour la recherche sur les administrations et les politiques publiquesfr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Fondation pour la recherche sur les administrations et les politiques publiqueswikidata.org