The French experience of reference budgets

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the French experience of reference budgets in establishing an operational definition of “minimum decent income,” which since has been inspired by the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) methodology developed in the UK. It explains the MIS approach that has been applied extensively in the French context and covered six family types. It also examines the most recent “MIS France” results, which confirms that the basic amount of guaranteed minimum incomes in France is far below the reference budgets for all family types, and yet for the time being. The chapter points out how reference budget research has failed to stir political action and public debate in France. It highlights the main results of the study and related research findings that place reference budgets in the French policy debate.