Abstract
In this opening lecture, Philippe Aghion recounts his experience in developing a new theory - schumpeterian - of economic growth : a theory of growth through innovation and creative destruction, which constantly brings modeling into dialogue with empirical analysis, and places the firm at the heart of the development process. He discusses some of the enigmas of growth : the role of competition and industrial policy ; the " Argentine paradox " and the traps of underdevelopment ; the relationship between innovation, inequality and social mobility ; and the apparent secular stagnation of developed economies.
Excerpt from his lecture
" What has enabled me (...) to escape the blank page syndrome is my eagerness to share with you my iconoclastic ideas on the economy ; and also a tremendous desire to share with you the twists and turns of the intellectual adventure that has been the elaboration of a new theory - schumpeterian - of economic growth. In particular, why and how, in our attempt to change the landscape, to transform a theory of growth that we initially found rather bland and boring into an exciting area of economics, we were the ones who had to change and learn to work differently, in particular to bring modeling into dialogue with empirical analysis. "
