Dialogues économiques | AMSE | Aix-Marseille School of Economics

An online media outlet dedicated to making economics accessible, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and the general public. Dialogues économiques publishes articles, video interviews, and infographics, twice a month, providing information on a wide range of topics addressed by economic research. Available in both French and English, the content may be reproduced in its entirety, provided the authors and the source Dialogues économiques are credited (CC BY-NC-ND). Readers can subscribe to receive each new publication directly in their inbox.

©Lex Hes & Boundless Southern Africa via Flickr

Dialogues économiques

A good wife? When marital reputation shapes economic choices

To buy or not to buy? When we weigh the decision to purchase something, a multitude of factors come into play. But is our partner’s opinion among them? This question becomes especially critical in households where incomes are extremely limited. To investigate, three economists recently carried out a large-scale experiment in Malawi.

OCTOBER 6, 2025

Dialogues économiques

Social networks: who counts most?

March 2019, Paris region. Two men are violently dragged out of a van and beaten. The cause: a rumour spread on social media, claiming that “white vans” were kidnapping children. Analysis of social media can help us to understand how such rumours spread: distinguishing between the target and the source within the network can contribute to a better understanding of how such information can be disseminated, according to the results of a recent theoretical study.

OCTOBER 26, 2025

Un homme en tenue de ville travaillant sur son ordinateur assis à une table à Chicago© Tim Gouw via Pexels

Dialogues économiques

Working Too Much Seriously Harms Your Health: The American Example

Why do Americans live shorter lives than Europeans, even though they spend far more on healthcare? This is the paradox explored by economists Tanguy Le Fur and Alain Trannoy, who ask: could working time be part of the explanation?

NOVEMBER 4, 2025

Dialogues économiques

When Organisation Matters More Than Pay

Why do employees in social and solidarity-based enterprises report being more satisfied with their work, even though they earn less and receive fewer benefits than those in the traditional private sector?

NOVEMBER 24, 2025

Dialogues économiques

The True Price of CO₂

In 2024, a grim record was set: it was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. The signs of climate upheaval are now visible to all, as global warming manifests itself in a rapid rise in extreme weather events. In theory, the solution is straightforward: we must stop burning fossil fuels. In practice, phasing out energy sources so firmly entrenched in contemporary societies is an immense challenge. To reduce CO₂ emissions, economists — trained in cost–benefit analysis — can help policymakers design strategies that are both effective and socially acceptable.

DECEMBER 9, 2025

Dialogues économiques

When economic precarity compounds the harms of homophobia

In many low- and middle-income countries, being LGBTQIA+ entails a double burden: discrimination compounded by economic precarity. Economists Bruno Ventelou and Erik Lamontagne reveal how this combination can undermine mental health, by cross-referencing global data on wellbeing, economic conditions, and the homophobic climate.

JANUARY 8, 2026

Dialogues économiques

The 'Dialogues économiques' magazine No. 5 is now online

Only in French - This issue compiles the 'Dialogues économiques' articles published in 2024

NOVEMBER 17, 2025

"Make Democracy Great Again" inscrit sur une façade. Photo par Andreas Gruhl / stock.adobe.com

Dialogues économiques

From political commitment to populist mechanics

Why are populist speeches so appealing? Why do rigid, sometimes unrealistic promises appear more credible than nuanced commitments? A recent study analyses the strategic mechanisms of a political system hampered by a crisis of trust in institutions.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

© J. Howard Miller — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Dialogues économiques

How does the past shed light on women's work?

What is the history of women's place in the workforce? By exploring the unpaid work carried out by women over the last 150 years in the United States, economists Barbara Petrongolo, Claudia Olivetti and Rachel Ngai reveal the often underestimated importance of their role.

MARCH 4, 2025

Dialogues économiques

Under the influence of our loved ones?

Who shapes our daily choices? Society, friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours? A team of economists examined how social interactions influence our decisions and what this means for public policy.

FEBRUARY 18, 2025