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.

Dialogues économiques

Might taxes impact innovations?

States seek inventors able to revolutionise our future, contributing to progress and new ideas. What fosters and encourages invention? A wide-ranging study presented by Stefanie Stantcheva shows that taxes in the U.S. have a great influence on innovation.

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

Dialogues économiques

Longevity, (in)equalities, progressivity: a fresh look at the U.S. tax system

Figures, percentages and graphics illustrate inequalities throughout the world. But from one place to another, inequalities depict very different situations. How can we study them? The economist Alan Auerbach, professor at the University of California, offers a new approach to the inequalities in developed countries by studying lifetime spending, after taxation and redistribution

NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Dialogues économiques

Can the market be ethical?

Combining markets and ethics isn’t easy, and the numerous frauds and scams that intervene at regular intervals don’t help. Should we be looking for more competition to reach efficiency or, on the contrary, seeking market regulation? To respond to this dilemma, economist Marie Claire Villeval uses experimental tools.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Dialogues économiques

The "Cold Rush": which countries will save us from climate disaster?

Norway made a historic decision by refusing oil exploration in the Lofoten archipelagos, north of the Arctic circle. It paves the way for preserving the environment for other countries that could be tempted to give in to the Cold Rush. The region is full of oil reserves that have many licking their lips, especially Russia. For the moment, the extreme arctic drilling conditions are a technological challenge that prevents its exploration. By banning arctic drilling as Norway has, other member states of the Arctic Council can save the Arctic sea ice. Their force lies in their unity.

APRIL 9, 2019

Dialogues économiques

In Zambia, traditional beliefs increase maternal risk

In this little country located in Southern Africa, birth complications are not treated and access to contraception remains difficult. Besides having poor access to medical services, traditional beliefs make pregnant women hide their problems, a silence that increases the already high maternal mortality rate.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Dialogues économiques

The people of Mali get to grips with the problem of sanitation

Today, 2 billion people still lack basic sanitation access. Although that constitutes a health emergency, the proposed solutions are not always appropriate. Authors Alzua and Djebbari show that involving the community in a sanitation program in the Koulikouro region of Mali leads to shifts in collective practices as families build and start using latrines.

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Un des déplacés du camp de Goma, fuyant les conflits au Nord Kivu (RDC) Photo ID 522841. 08/08/2012. Goma, DRC. UN Photo/Sylvain

Dialogues économiques

Violence in Africa: multinationals take some of the blame

Multinationals don’t find it easy to trace the origin of minerals produced in conflict-prone areas, but firms are held liable for human and social damage. In a recent scientific article, Nicolas Berman, Mathieu Couttenier, Dominic Rohner and Mathias Thoenig show that the violence induced by variations in mineral prices is associated mainly with foreign-owned firms. For some time now, companies, NGOs and States have been implementing transparency measures. The authors examine their impact on the regions’ stability.

APRIL 25, 2019

Florian Wehde on Unsplash - Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar.

Dialogues économiques

Sovereign wealth funds: just a fashion?

The Qatari Sovereign Wealth Fund owns the PSG football team, more than 6 hotels and shares in Lagardère or Total, to name but a few of their assets. That’s enough to attract some concern. However, it’s simply following a world trend since the beginning of the 21st century. More than 45% of existing wealth funds were created between 2000 and 2009. Economists C. Lecourt, J. Amar, and V. Kinon explain what’s behind this “craze”.

AUGUST 27, 2019

Dialogues économiques

Globalization and colonization : a tale of size

There’s a message in people’s changes in height size. During the first globalization period, at the end of the 19th century, Filipinos lost up to 1.5 centimetres compared to their grandparents. This may be evidence of the degradation of living standards and nutrition. Economic growth does not pay off for everyone in the same way, as those who lived in colonized areas know.

DECEMBER 17, 2019

Dialogues économiques

Is altruism a more reliable provider than the state?

Altruism appears to be absent from regular economic debate. However, money flows within relationships, and parents or friends can usually be counted on to lend a helping hand. These private transfers represent an even larger share of redistribution in developing economies. When the Welfare State is weak, informal transfers are a wild card for the poorest. Even social welfare policies could prove counter-productive when there is a good altruistic network in place!

MARCH 12, 2019