Education, housing, energy: the failures of global governance
The French Senate proposes an increase in university tuition fees and selective admission, while the EU regulates short-term rentals. These measures, indicative of governments under pressure, risk exacerbating social divisions. The article analyzes the challenges and proposes prospective scenarios.
On September 10, 2026, a French senatorial report proposes to multiply university tuition fees by five — 900 euros for a bachelor's degree, 1,300 euros for a master's degree — and to introduce selection at entry. The same month, the European Commission paves the way for cities to cap short-term rentals. Two decisions, one symptom: governments under pressure trying to regain control over sectors in crisis, at the risk of exacerbating social divides.
Key points
1. The French Senate opens an explosive debate on universities. The proposal to increase tuition fees and introduce selection for entry into higher education marks a break with the principle of equal access. According to institutional data, France is already among the OECD countries with one of the lowest expenditures per student. If this reform were adopted, it would profoundly alter the socio-economic profile of students, in a country where the failure rate for bachelor's degrees exceeds 50%.
2. The European Union wants to regulate Airbnb and similar platforms. The European Commission has established conditions allowing local authorities to limit short-term rentals, in order to ease pressure on housing markets. Available data show that in cities like Paris, Barcelona, or Lisbon, the share of housing dedicated to tourist rentals has grown dramatically in ten years, contributing to soaring rents. This initiative could give municipalities more room for maneuver, but its application will depend on local political will.
3. Local energy transition produces contradictory signals. Recent alerts report exceedances of renewable production thresholds in several French regions: renewable gas in Normandy (51.29%), solar in Corsica (50%), wind in Pays de la Loire (50.5%). These figures, while positive, mask disparities: hydropower in Centre-Val de Loire shows a decrease of 51.03%. Local energy governance is therefore facing a challenge of stability and storage, as demand grows.
4. The Mexican budget for 2027 reveals contrasting political choices. Claudia Sheinbaum's government proposes a 6.7% increase for education, but a 9.3% decrease for the fight against corruption. At the same time, the budget for the water agency (Conagua) would increase by 2.3%, with an 8.9% rise in current expenditures and a compression of investments. These budgetary trade-offs illustrate the tensions between social priorities and macroeconomic constraints.
5. Digital governance and citizen mobilization are changing the game. In North Macedonia, an anonymous platform allows students to report higher education problems, while in Afghanistan, women entrepreneurs are bearing the brunt of Taliban restrictions. These dynamics show that civil societies are organizing, but authoritarian regimes or rigid bureaucracies hinder necessary adjustments.
Context
The housing and education crisis is not new. Since the 2000s, the massification of higher education has been accompanied by chronic underinvestment in many countries. In parallel, the financialization of housing, accelerated by digital platforms, has transformed entire neighborhoods into tourist assets. Governments, often caught between budgetary imperatives and social demands, struggle to find a balance. The wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery, loaded with explosives off the coast of the United Kingdom, also reminds us that time bombs, literal or metaphorical, threaten stability.
Key players
French parliamentarians, driven by a logic of budgetary rigor, want to reform universities. Students and part of the academic world denounce a commodification of education. In Brussels, the European Commission is trying to reconcile the single market and tenant protection, under pressure from the mayors of large cities. In Mexico, the executive arbitrates between social spending and the fight against corruption, under the watchful eye of the legislative power. In Germany, Chancellor Merz, weakened by the AfD's breakthrough, must regain the initiative on social issues. In Hungary, Orbán's regime continues to muzzle dissenting voices, as recalled by the return of writer Kati Marton.
Data and figures
According to available public indicators, renewable energy production is experiencing significant regional peaks in France, with thresholds exceeded in several sectors. These data, while encouraging, should not obscure the setbacks observed in hydropower. Furthermore, the Mexican education budget for 2027 would amount to more than 576 billion pesos, a real increase of 6.7%, while the anti-corruption budget would fall to 8,945 million pesos, a decrease of 9.3%. These figures, from institutional sources, shed light on political priorities.
Analysis of issues
In the short term, the French university reform could provoke student mobilization and a national debate on equal opportunities. European regulation of short-term rentals could, if applied, lower rents in strained areas, but it will face resistance from platforms and property owners. In Mexico, the decrease in the anti-corruption budget risks weakening control institutions, while the increase in the education budget could improve access to schooling. In the medium term, these social tensions could fuel distrust of governments and strengthen populist movements, as in Germany where the AfD capitalizes on frustrations.
Prospective hypotheses
Scenario 1: Reforms adopted, tensions eased (probability 30%). Governments manage to implement reforms with social compensation (scholarships, housing aid). Indicators to monitor: student participation rate, evolution of rents in European cities.
Scenario 2: Blockages and radicalization (probability 50%). Reforms are perceived as unfair, leading to social movements and political polarization. Indicators: number of demonstrations, progression of anti-system parties.
Scenario 3: Status quo and drift (probability 20%). Reforms are buried or watered down, problems worsen. Indicators: stagnation of university enrollments, continuous rise in rents.
Why it matters
Whether you are a student, a tenant, or a citizen, these decisions shape your daily life. The increase in tuition fees could limit access to university for the less privileged. The regulation of short-term rentals could, conversely, make cities more affordable. But will these measures be enough to address structural crises? The question remains open: to what extent can governments regain control without stifling freedoms?
This analysis was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence, from institutional sources and verifiable open data. AI Transparency