24th ESPAnet Annual Conference

The Institute of Public Policy – Lisbon (IPP) successfully organised the 24th ESPAnet Annual Conference, which took place from 26 to 28 August 2026 at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management, in Lisbon, under the theme “Resize? Restructure? The European Social Model under Pressure”.The conference brought together researchers, academics and public policy experts from across Europe to reflect on the growing challenges facing the European social model in a context marked by profound economic, social and political transformations.Throughout the three-day event, participants discussed the implications of the current global geo-economic and strategic environment, characterised by trade tensions, the…
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Report 12 – What future are we leaving to the next generations? An intergenerational justice index for Portugal

In the previous Report (Pereira et al., 2023) we presented the methodology for constructing both a new “Intergenerational Justice Index for Portugal” and six Intergenerational Justice Indices covering six essential dimensions. In this study, we summarise the methodologies used, the indicators selected, and the main results obtained. The dimensions considered remain unchanged, as does the vast majority of indicators used within each dimension. Further details on the indicators, formulas, underlying data and sources may be consulted with the respective authors and in several articles to be published in the first half of 2026 in policy papers of the Institute of…
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Policy Paper 38 | Rigid Budgets, Fragile Adjustments: The Fiscal Consequences of an Expanding Wage Bill

This policy paper examines one of the key structural challenges to fiscal consolidation in Portugal: the rigidity of public expenditure, with a particular focus on the public sector wage bill. Against the backdrop of fiscal normalization under high debt and constrained policy space, the analysis explores how wage-bill dynamics shape the pace, composition, and sustainability of fiscal adjustment. Drawing on recent empirical evidence and the Portuguese experience, the paper highlights the limitations of short-term, crisis-driven measures and argues for durable structural reforms in public employment and pay-setting frameworks to support credible and growth-friendly consolidation.Read the Policy Paper here.About the Institute…
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PromethEUs Conference: Making the 2028-2034 MFF fit for EU Competitiveness

Join the PromethEUs network for an insightful conference focusing on the future of European financing.Topic: "Making the 2028-2034 MFF fit for EU Competitiveness"Date: Tuesday, 9 December Time: 12:30 – 14:00 (A light lunch will be available starting at 12:00)Location: I-Com premises, Avenue des Arts 50, BrusselsWhat to ExpectDuring this event, PromethEUs will officially present its second study of 2025.The comprehensive study will analyze the proposal for the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in four key chapters, featuring:A detailed comparison with the previous MFF.An in-depth look at the proposed European Competitive Fund.An analysis of the specific financing needs of the digital…
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Rethinking Electoral Districts: Justice and Representation

The Institute of Public Policy – Lisbon will host, in November at ISEG, the workshop “Rethinking Electoral Districts: Justice and Representation.”Electoral districts refer to the territorial constituencies that serve as the basis for converting votes into seats, a process that in Portugal follows the D’Hondt method. However, the magnitude of these districts — that is, the number of representatives elected in each constituency — varies greatly. This disparity affects electoral fairness and increases the number of wasted votes, particularly in low-magnitude districts (for example, Portalegre), thereby encouraging “tactical voting.”This workshop will serve as a forum to discuss the challenges associated…
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OE 2026: Local Finances, Decentralization and Housing

October 28th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., ISEG (Auditorium 2)The decentralization of powers to local authorities, and their key role in implementing EU funds in the area of housing, raise important questions that will be addressed at the seminar OE 2026: Local Finances, Decentralization and Housing. Beyond the 2026 State Budget, it is also essential to analyse the budgetary execution of 2025 and 2024, in order to reflect on the impact of fiscal policy on crucial areas of public governance.i. Will the funding foreseen in the 2026 State Budget be sufficient given the expanded responsibilities of local authorities?ii. Will municipalities have…
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International Conference – Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation | Presentation of the 2025 Intergenerational Justice Index Results

On December 4th, between 10:00 and 13:00, the Institute of Public Policy, in partnership with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, will host an international conference to present the updated Intergenerational Justice Index for Portugal.This event aims to share the new results and foster debate on public policies that promote a fairer distribution of opportunities across generations, with a special focus on the areas of environment, health, labour market, housing, public finances, and poverty and living conditions — the core dimensions of the Index’s methodology.More information coming soon.
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Policy Paper 37 | Green jobs: the relationship between the environmental transition and the labour market in Portugal

This Policy Paper investigates the relationship between the environmental transition and the Portuguese labour market by analysing the supply and demand of green jobs. The study examines recent employment trends across five specific green occupations in Portugal using two primary data sources: registered labour supply and demand from the Employment Centres of the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, IEFP) between 2014 and 2023, and microdata from the Personnel Tables Personnel Tables collected by the Strategy and Planning Office of the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security (Gabinete de Estratégia e Planeamento do…
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Policy Paper 36 | Lessons for Administrative Simplification: The Portuguese Simplex Programme

Since 2006, the Portuguese Simplex Programme has become one of Europe’s most notable initiatives in administraive simplification and digital transformation. Designed to cut red tape, reduce compliance costs, and improve the relationship between citizens, businesses, and the State, Simplex has served as a laboratory for public sector reform and a reference case in the international debate on better regulation.In Policy Paper 36 of the Institute of Public Policy (IPP) – “Lessons for Administrative Simplification: The Portuguese Simplex Programme” – authors Rúben Bento (IPP-Lisbon) and Steffen Hoernig (IPP-Lisbon & Nova SBE) review almost two decades of the programme. The paper analyses…
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Policy Brief 16 | Health Emergency Plan

The Health Emergency Plan was presented in May 2024 by the Ministry of Health. This plan is a health policy instrument aimed at tackling urgent and priority challenges in access to healthcare in Portugal. Structured around five strategic axes, the plan proposes a comprehensive set of measures that respond to the current critical needs of the healthcare system. Each strategic axis was analysed by a group of health professionals, resulting in the preparation of Policy Briefs that summarise the main recommendations and directions for action. These documents also present a critical analysis of the measures implemented and propose possible improvements…
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