Question 5755 — French people abroad

Summary

Mr. Karim Ben Cheikh questions the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs on the methods of calculating the purchasing power parity index (IPPA), used to determine the proportions of school scholarships awarded to French children residing abroad. The IPPA is made up of 70% of a cost of living index and 30% of a housing cost index, each weighted by the chancellery rate between the euro and the local currency. These Indices are calculated from data provided annually by the Mercer Consulting agency, according to a representative basket of goods and services compared to a base of 100 for Paris. In 2024, the Mercer Consulting agency updated its calculation method, in particular by modifying the composition of the consumption basket and adjusting the consideration of current charges (water, gas, electricity, internet, etc.). However, neither the composition detailed description of this basket of goods and services, neither the weightings applied to each category of expenditure, nor the evolution of the intermediate indices by item or by component are made public. The methodological revision carried out in 2024 thus led to a marked drop in the IPPA in several consular posts, particularly in Africa and Asia, even though these regions are often affected by inflation higher than that of France. This reduction in the IPPA has a direct impact on the calculation of the weighted family quotient of scholarship applicants. In fact, a falling IPPA mechanically increases the family quotient, which reduces the grant quota allocated and therefore the amount of aid. This situation is particularly worrying in countries where the real cost of living for compatriots does not decrease, or even increases. This lack of transparency makes any independent verification of the method used impossible and prevents on the one hand parliamentary control and on the other hand the understanding of the precise reasons for the evolution of the IPPA by the advisors of French people abroad, as well as by the families concerned. He would therefore like to be informed of the Government's intentions regarding the measures envisaged to strengthen the transparency of the calculation of the parity index. purchasing power (IPPA), particularly with regard to the publication of data, weightings and methods used by the Mercer Consulting agency.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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