Call for Papers : 2026 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar

2026-08-27T00:00:00+02:00

The annual seminar aims to bridge the gap between academic research and policy-making and is co-hosted with the French Ministry of Economics, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.

This year’s topic is:

“Artificial Intelligence, Productivity and Public Finances”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely regarded as potentially one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century. For fiscal policy, its implications are profound and multidimensional. AI has the potential to raise productivity and potential growth, reshape labour markets and alter the distribution of income and economic returns. On the revenue side, these effects would impact tax and social security bases, the composition of our tax revenues – including international tax revenue-sharing – and governments’ revenue-raising capacity. On the expenditure side, AI could increase structural adjustment pressures in labour markets, increase the pressure on the social security system and change the cost structure of public services, while also creating opportunities to improve the efficiency of public administrations. Overall, whether AI ultimately strengthens or weakens public finances will depend on the balance between aggregate productivity gains, labour market adjustments and the diffusion of the technology across firms and sectors.

Furthermore, AI poses a strategic challenge to economic sovereignty for Europe: the most advanced AI systems and large-scale computing infrastructure are currently concentrated outside the European Union. Limited access to or increased usage cost for the latest AI systems could lead to a loss of competitiveness in Europe and could reduce the share of the resulting economic rents and revenues. Closing Europe’s gap in research, computing infrastructure and energy supply in relation to the United States and China would require substantial capital as well as regulatory reforms, raising questions about the appropriate role of the state and possible consequences for EU member states’ public finances.

The aim of the 2026 Franco-German FPS is to present cutting-edge academic work that can contribute to a better understanding of this challenging economic transformation and to 1 inform policymakers about appropriate responses that safeguard economic welfare and maintain sustainable public finances. Featuring a policy panel and a keynote address, the FPS also aims to facilitate discussions and the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

We are especially interested in submissions covering topics that include, but are not limited to, the following issues:

The productivity effects of AI, including their magnitude, timing and measurement; differences across firms, sectors and countries and their impact on public finances; scenario analyses and policy options to maintain sustainable public finances.
The implications of AI for labour markets and its distributional impacts, including through changes in productivity, employment, task compositions, wage growth, working hours and the allocation of economic returns between labour and capital; its implications for the fiscal sustainability of the social security system, economic welfare and the allocation of taxing rights and tax revenues across jurisdictions.
The geographical and sectoral concentration of AI-related economic activity and rents and its implications for Europe’s competitiveness and economic outlook; possible consequences for sovereign financing conditions in the euro zone.
Public and private investment in AI-related infrastructure, including public-private partnerships (PPP), their effectiveness and appropriate division of responsibilities between governments and the private sector.
The role of fiscal, tax, industrial and competition policy in supporting AI adoption and innovation aimed at strengthening European economic sovereignty, including the effectiveness and efficiency of subsidies, tax incentives and public-private risk sharing.

Both theoretical and empirical submissions are welcome.

We invite papers in English to be submitted by 9 October 2026 to: Franco-German-FPS@bmf.bund.de. Please use the subject line: “Submission for 2026 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar”.

Authors of papers accepted by the Scientific Committee will be notified in early November. This year’s chair of the Scientific Committee will be Prof. Irene Bertschek from ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim / Justus Liebig University Giessen.

The travel and hotel expenses of invited speakers (one speaker per selected paper) will be covered by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, based on economy fares.

Call for Papers : 2025 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar

2025-07-04T00:00:00+02:00

This annual Seminar aims to bridge the gap between academic research and policy-making. This
year’s topic is:

Investing in Europe’s future

The European Union is at a critical juncture. It needs to foster sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth as it deals with the consequences of multiple crises and faces major structural and geopolitical shifts. Addressing these challenges requires a renewed focus on investment – both public and private – in order to insure Europe’s long-term prosperity.

The recent report by Mario Draghi on the future of European competitiveness has brought renewed attention to the magnitude of the investment gap Europe is facing. Whether in the fields of climate and energy transition, digitalization, defense, or innovation, the EU must mobilize substantial resources to preserve its economic and social model, reduce strategic dependencies, and safeguard its long-term potential.

These needs arise at a time of fiscal consolidation in many Member States and in the early implementation phase of the reformed EU economic governance framework. The ability to reconcile investment imperatives with fiscal sustainability, to channel private capital into strategic priorities, and to foster a supportive regulatory and financial environment is now central to the policy debate.

The aim of the 2025 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar is to present cutting-edge academic work that can contribute to a better understanding of the economic mechanisms behind investment decisions and to inform policy responses that promote long-term growth, strategic autonomy, and economic resilience.

We welcome original research papers that help shed light on the investment challenges faced by the EU and on the policy instruments that can support a stronger, more autonomous, and more resilient European economy. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

The role of fiscal, monetary, and industrial policies in fostering long-term investment and sustainable growth.
Implications of the reformed EU fiscal framework for public investment, fiscal space and debt sustainability.
Crowding in private investment through regulatory frameworks, public guarantees, blended finance, and public-private partnerships.
The mobilization and allocation of European savings: Capital Markets Union, Banking Union, and financial integration.
Strategic autonomy and economic security: investment in defense, critical infrastructure, and key technologies.
Financing the green transition: climate investment needs, carbon pricing and fiscal tools.
Investment in human capital, skills, and innovation.
The role of the EU budget and common instruments in financing shared priorities.
Lessons from past investment programmes (e.g. Recovery and Resilience Facility).

Both theoretical and empirical submissions are welcome. We invite papers in English to be submitted by 15th September 2025 to: francogerman-seminar@dgtresor.gouv.fr (please use the subject line: “Submission for 2025 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar”).

Authors of papers selected by the scientific committee, chaired by Dorothée Rouzet (chief economist at the French Treasury), will be invited to present their work at the seminar. The French Ministry for the Economy and Finance will cover travel and accommodation expenses for one invited speaker per accepted paper, in line with economy fares. Please note that authors residing outside of Europe will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. Notification of acceptance will be communicated by October.

Trésor-Info - Publications de la direction générale du Trésor - call-for-papers

Call for Papers : 2026 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar

Call for Papers : 2025 Franco-German Fiscal Policy Seminar