On Monday January 29, 2024, École normale supérieure paid tribute to economist Daniel Cohen (1953-2023), after the publication by Albin Michel of his latest book “Une Brève histoire de l’Économie”, as well as a collection of articles “Daniel Cohen, l’économiste qui voulait changer le monde” which proceeds will be donated to the ENS Foundation. The evening took place in the Daniel Cohen amphitheatre of the Paris School of Economics (PSE), inaugurated in September 2023 in the presence of the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire.
Economist Esther Duflo (Nobel Prize 2019), who succeeds Daniel Cohen as President of PSE, introduced a round table discussion on the legacy of this renowned intellectual, and eminent professor at the ENS. Current issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence were discussed in the light of Daniel Cohen’s work thanks to the speakers: Laurence Tubiana, Director of the European Climate Foundation, Ishac Diwan, Professor of Economics (ENS and PSE), Coralie Chevallier, Director of Research (ENS) and Alexandre Wickham, Editorial Director at Albin Michel. Michel Cohen, mining engineer and brother of Daniel Cohen, concluded the round table.
The evening was also an opportunity to present a project dear to PSE and ENS-PSL: the creation of a Daniel Cohen Chair. The chair, named to honor the memory of the economist, will be the first permanent professorial Chair at ENS. It will be held by a leading international researcher who shares Daniel Cohen’s concern to make economics available to public debate and decision-making. The Professor will be chosen by a scientific committee chaired by Esther Duflo.
A Daniel Cohen Prize will also be launched in June 2024 at the PSE Forum to reward the thesis work of a doctoral student in economics.
By supporting these projects, the ENS Foundation hopes to help perpetuate the legacy of Daniel Cohen, whose work and teaching have left their mark on younger generations of economists.
For more information on the creation of the Daniel Cohen Chair and future events, please contact the Foundation team.