Isn’t it intriguing how a place can be named after someone you’ve never heard of? Here we are at Place François Simiand. This place commemorates a man who significantly impacted French social science.
François Simiand was not just any economist or sociologist. He was a key figure in the French Historical School of economics. Simiand believed in backing up theories with solid facts and statistics.
Born in 1873, François Simiand’s academic journey was unique. He excelled in philosophy. However, he soon found himself drawn to law and economics. This led him to write a thesis on the wages of coal miners in France in 1904.
Simiand’s career took an unusual turn. Instead of pursuing a traditional academic path, he became a librarian. He worked for the French Ministries of Commerce and Labor. This role lasted until World War I. Later, he taught Economic History. This was at the École Pratique des Hautes Études.
His work didn’t go unnoticed. By 1931, at 58, he was appointed to the Collège de France. He accepted the chair in labor history. Simiand was also part of the Année Sociologique. He edited the economic sociology section. He became their statistics expert.
During World War I, François Simiand moved into public service. He joined the Ministry of Armaments. He played a key role in shaping policy. After the war, he directed labor for Alsace-Lorraine for a year. Later, he taught at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.
Simiand viewed economics as a social science. It was based on real observations not assumptions. This meant lots of historical and statistical research. Joseph Schumpeter recognized Simiand’s importance. He considered him a French Institutionalist.
Simiand’s major works include “La Méthode positive en science économique”. It was published in 1911. He also wrote studies on real wages. He also studied money and long economic cycles. His approach wasn’t just theoretical. He used it to critique other economists.
His book “Le Salaire, l’évolution sociale et la monnaie” came out in 1932. It tried to create a wage theory based on stats.
François Simiand passed away in 1935. His work left a lasting mark. This place ensures his contributions are not forgotten. It reminds us of his dedication to social science. He was dedicated to understanding the economic realities of his time. Next time you pass by, remember François Simiand. He was a man of method and insight.