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The Madman and the Economist(s): Georges Bataille and François Perroux as French Critiques of the Marshall Plan

Author

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  • Raphaël Fèvre

    (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

Abstract

This paper deals with the initial reception of the Marshall Plan by Georges Bataille and François Perroux in light of the discussion they held in the journal Critique, during the second half of 1948. I argue that Bataille and Perroux took the Marshall Plan as an enigma that current economic and political theories were not able to explain fully. And that in response, both authors contributed a unique and sophisticated economic analysis to transcend what they perceived as limited scope of economics. By focusing on this interdisciplinary dialogue, this paper is intended as a contribution to a history of economic thought taking in the economic inquiry of non-economists, and the ways in which they relate to professional economists.

Suggested Citation

  • Raphaël Fèvre, 2022. "The Madman and the Economist(s): Georges Bataille and François Perroux as French Critiques of the Marshall Plan," Post-Print halshs-03573096, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03573096
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/6hnvk
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03573096v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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