The prize for Best Young Economist, awarded by Le Monde and the think tank Le Cercle des économistes, recognizes academic excellence, as demonstrated by the quality of the candidates' international publications. But the originality of the Prize also lies in its emphasis on the ability to analyze economic and social realities, and on participation in public debate. Candidates stand out for their proposals in response to problems arising in complex societies, and for their contributions to economic policy or corporate decision-making.
The winner of the 2024 prize, Alexandra Roulet, exemplifies this ambition, combining academic excellence with a commitment to public life. She wrote her doctoral thesis at Harvard University in the United States and now teaches in France at the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD). In addition to her publications, both on her own and as a co-author with leading economists, she has served as macroeconomics and public policy adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron and to former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, and is involved in the work of the governmental employment agency France Travail and the General Secretariat for Investment. She is also a member of the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the Council of Economic Analysis.
Two of the three nominees (Fanny Henriet and Antonin Bergeaud) hold research professorships in France, at the Paris School of Economics and at HEC, and the third, Benjamin Marx, is based in Boston. All have already received prestigious scientific awards or research grants (CNRS Bronze Medal, J-PAL Southeast Asia, IRF Grant, Upjohn Institute Dissertation Award), contributing to the reputation of French economics.
Through the results of their research, the laureates were able to shed original light, objectify often divisive issues, and propose innovative solutions and approaches. Roulet focused in particular on gender inequalities over time, their determinants and the measures needed to mitigate them. She highlighted factors that are often underestimated, such as the differentiated valuation of commuting time. She also worked on the relationship between health and unemployment.
Other research has enabled her to link consumer behavior and corporate environmental strategies. The broad spectrum of her work demonstrates her determination to contribute to new advances in economic science and to developing relevant public policies.
As for the nominees, Henriet's work deals with the energy transition, with a focus on the future of fossil fuels and environmental taxation.
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