Société d’Economie Politique was established in 1842 by the disciples of Jean-Baptiste Say to provide a forum for discussions about economics at a time when there was much heated debate about free trade.
Today, the society has around 350 members, including academics, company owners and executives, and senior civil servants among others. It continues to bring people together to discuss and reflect on economic and social issues.
“Thank you to the members of the Société d’Economie Politique for electing me to chair this illustrious learned society founded in 1842. A forum that brings together economists from different backgrounds with an appreciation for rational and challenging debate,” Emmanuel Combe posted on Twitter.
Société d’Economie Politique organises dinner debates for its members each month at the Cercle de l'Union Interalliée, with political and economic figures as special guests. Most recently, they included François Villeroy de Galhau, governor of Banque de France; Laurence Boone, chief economist at the OECD; Philippe Aghion, professor at Collège de France; and Clement Beaune, French Secretary of State for European Affairs.