Research is about ideas that can change the world!

Pushing the boundaries of knowledge is at the heart of our mission at 法国HEC管理学院 . It goes beyond publications in scientific journals and influence in academic circles which are both fundamental and prerequisite. It also aims to diffuse such knowledge more broadly and have an impact in society at large.

Our faculty is driven by this mission. Thanks to them, we are also committed to welcoming the world's most eminent university professors to disseminate their contributions to science and society as a whole. In recent years, we have awarded with an Honoris Cause Degree some of the most influential thinkers of our time. Here are some of their game-changing ideas and how they empower us to act.

?#1 How can we make better decisions?

We can make better decisions in economics, public policy, our personal lives and as a society by being aware of our cognitive biases, irrationality and unpredictable factors that can have an alarming impact on human judgment.

By shedding light on how people make decisions, behave and understand the world, Daniel Kahneman's - the 2002 Nobel Prize winner in economics - groundbreaking work in psychology and behavioral economics has had a profound impact.

In October 2021, we were honored to welcome him for a lively discussion with the co-author of his latest book (Noise), HEC Paris Professor Olivier Sibony .

#2 How can we fight poverty?

Economics and experimental research methods are powerful tools for building solution to alleviate global poverty. They provide the basis for implementing the right economic policies and bringing the most effective development aid programs to scale.

Esther Duflo, winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics, has transformed economics research by demonstrating the potential and impact of the randomized experiments approach in the fight against poverty.

We were fortunate to welcome her to campus for the second time last year, and she is a true role model for our students and faculty. Her work is driven by the conviction that it is possible to create a world without poverty, and that economics has an essential role to play in this.

#3?How can we transform the way we do business?

A company's success and mission should not only be founded on making profits for its shareholders, but also on taking into account the interests of all its stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers, communities, institutions and even society as a whole) in decision-making and management practices, ultimately leading to more sustainable, responsible and successful businesses.

The stakeholder theory developed by R. Edward Freeman has brought about a fundamental change in the role of business and the very concept of capitalism. Corporate responsibility is one of its main implications, as it considers that organizations have a moral and ethical responsibility to take into account the interests of all stakeholders, not just shareholders. This theory also underpins the French "mission-driven company" statute or the international B Corp certification.

Ed Freeman will be on the HEC campus on Monday March 4th, and I encourage you to listen to his talk (live on Linkedin) on the ‘Next Stage of Capitalism’, followed by a discussion with Professor Rodolphe Durand and our students.