The aim of the international chair of citizen economists at Sciences Po Toulouse is to promote a pluralist and contextualised economy at the service of living beings.

A well-known economist, author, essayist and journalist, Bernard Maris was cowardly murdered in the attack on Charlie l'Hebdo on 7 January 2015. A pupil at the Lycée Pierre-de-Fermat and then a graduate of Sciences Po Toulouse in 1968, Bernard Maris obtained a doctorate in economics from the Université Toulouse 1 in 1975 and was recruited as a lecturer there in 1984. He became a university professor at Sciences Po Toulouse in 1994. He is internationally renowned for his criticism of mathematical economics, which is too far removed from the other human and social sciences and the concerns of the general public. His books, radio columns and satirical articles in Charlie Hebdo (Oncle Bernard) have left their mark on generations of citizens and students.

As a tribute to this free and committed spirit, the Bernard Maris Chair proposes a socio-economic approach to societal change in the face of crises, ruptures and transitions, in their geo-political, humanitarian, climatic, environmental, technological and organisational dimensions.

The chair team is made up of around fifteen researchers and teacher-researchers in the social sciences (institutional economics, geographic economics, innovation economics, legal economics and management) and two full professors.

Ron Boschma, Professor of Geographical Economics at the University of Utrecht and winner of the Vautrin-Lud Prize 2024, has held the chair since 2018. In line with its concerns, the Chair has welcomed the best specialists in the humanities and social sciences and developed work on the driving forces behind regional development.

From September 2025, the Chair will have two co-holders, with Professor Rajeswari Raina of Shiv Nadar University joining Ron Boshma. With her, and in line with UNESCO's priorities, the Chair will broaden its field of expertise to include issues of social inclusiveness and ecological justice, particularly in the South.

The Chair team is currently developing an ambitious work programme for the 2025-2029 quadrennium. In theoretical terms, the team is working on a position paper on institutional change, its driving forces and its role in societal transitions. In addition, 4 empirical themes will be investigated in partnership with regional and departmental public players and civil society: i) green innovations and territorial autonomy; ii) agro-ecological transitions; iii) resource governance and the dynamics of the commons; iv) green money and finance.

In line with UNESCO's philosophy, which favours dialogue, intellectual solidarity and mutual understanding, participatory research involving stakeholders from the formulation of problems and promoting the co-production of knowledge, rules and solutions will be encouraged.

Biannual highlights in line with UNESCO's priorities

Grouping the Chair's events into two annual highlights (one week in November and one in March), with cross-fertilisation of audiences (researchers, students, economic players and the public), will enhance the Chair's visibility and impact. Consistency with the United Nations Years Programme will also be sought. For example, in 2025, we will be exploring the links between technologies, the circular economy and cooperation, and in 2026, an ‘agroecology and pastoralism’ event will be organised.

Workshops and methodology for the co-design of sustainable production activities

One day a week will be devoted to co-design workshops bringing together researchers, public-sector players, the economy and civil society, co-defined with the help of a mediator. The aim of these workshops will be to create a common ground, define a joint work plan and test different co-creation formulas. Progress will be presented at each Chair week. Over the course of the four-year period, they will help to create a toolbox that can be adapted and disseminated to other regions, in France and internationally.

Disseminating and teaching economic sciences

The various events organised by the Chair provide an opportunity to produce teaching resources and materials that can be made available online (Youtube channel and the Chair's website). The Chair will also be extending its support for the reflective activity of secondary school economics teachers (partnership with APSES), extending it to agricultural secondary schools (via ENSFEA) and opening it up to establishments in the South. The aim is to organise training courses, study days, conferences and writing residencies on the teaching of political economy and education for the ecological transition.