Political Instability Modulates but Does Not End Legislative Inflation in France
Despite recent political instability in France, the longstanding issue of legislative inflation persists, driven by structural and temporary factors, with calls for administrative reform and cultural shifts to improve legislative quality.
- • Normative inflation in France has significantly increased legislative amendments since the mid-1990s.
- • Recent political instability has led to a relative decrease but not an end to legislative inflation.
- • Legislative output has shifted from government bills to parliamentary proposals.
- • Structural and conjonctural factors sustain normative inflation, necessitating administrative reform and a public service cultural shift.
Key details
The issue of normative inflation, or the rapid increase in legislative and regulatory norms in France, has been a persistent concern for decades. Hervé Moysan highlights that although legislative production has surged four to fivefold since the mid-1990s, recent political instability following the 2022 and 2024 elections has not eradicated this trend but instead caused a relative decrease in legislative output. Notably, the volume of legislative and regulatory measures shows a lack of direct correlation, suggesting the current legislative slowdown is more circumstantial than a deliberate reduction effort.
President Macron previously condemned legislative inflation as a "disease" in 2017, reflecting long-standing political unease. The Conseil d'État has also raised concerns over the past 25 years about the explosive growth in norms. The shift from government-initiated bills to parliamentary proposals now dominates legislative activity, and the application rate of laws has dropped significantly since 2019.
The persistence of normative inflation stems from structural issues such as societal reliance on regulation and bureaucratic expansion, compounded by conjonctural factors including past reform agendas. This surge in norms leads to inhibited initiative and widespread anxiety about regulatory compliance. Proposed solutions to curb this inflation emphasize the need for administrative restructuring and fostering a public cultural shift that prioritizes outcomes in public service. Ultimately, a comprehensive and targeted public policy will be essential to enhance the quality of legislation and effectively address normative inflation in France.