This symposium is part of a recent and very dynamic renewal of research on the State in economics involving a critical examination of two dominant postulates of the discipline: 1) the assumption of an apolitical State or a benevolent dictatorship which pursues no private interest maximizing the general interest. 2) The assumption of “soft trade”, i.e. the exclusion of social conflicts, inter-state and intra-state wars in the presence of markets. Our discussions aim to explore how the sovereign, prudential, and providential dimensions of the state can be interpreted if these two assumptions are dropped. What is the place of conflictual power in the genesis and evolution of the rules governing the distribution of wealth and economic, social, and ecological development?

Argument

The aim of the symposium is to discuss the relevance of the concept predatory state by reviewing its Janus face as both protector and predator. On the one hand, the State is allegedly protective when it finances many social programs (education, research, health, retirement, housing subsidies, allowances, etc.), imposes legal rules for the protection of goods and services, and fights against poverty and inequality. On the other hand, the State is predatory when it is criticized for the development of taxes and duties, when it generates undemocratic bureaucracies, deteriorates the working conditions of public officials, or maintains a police and army involved in internal and external warfare.

How can we overcome such a dichotomous reading of the State, and think about this central institution of our societies in all its complexity?

This program is part of a recent and very dynamic renewal of research on the State in economics involving a critical examination of two dominant postulates of the discipline: 1) the assumption of an apolitical State or a benevolent dictatorship which pursues no private interest maximizing the general interest. 2) The assumption of "soft trade", i.e. the exclusion of social conflicts, inter-state and intra-state wars in the presence of markets. Our discussions aim to explore how the sovereign, prudential, and providential dimensions of the state can be interpreted if these two assumptions are dropped. What is the place of conflictual power in the genesis and evolution of the rules governing the distribution of wealth and economic, social, and ecological development?

RSVP

Please RSVP by filling the doodle formular, in order to confirm your attendance and lunch reservation. For specific questions contact (nicolas.dasilva[at]univ-paris13.fr)

Access

The conference will take place in the premises of the IUT Université Paris XIII Sorbonne Paris Cité.99 Avenue Jean Baptiste Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse (transportation access) Room T 204 (coffee reception adjacent room T206)

Provisional program

• 9h30 – Welcoming the participants
• 9h45-9h50 – Introductory address by Philippe Batifoulier (Director of CEPN, University Paris 13) and Mehrdad Vahabi (CEPN, University Paris 13, and the Guest editor of the special issue of Public Choice on « Predatory state »)

9h50-12-30 – Morning session

• 9h50-10h – Introduction by Pascal Petit, (CNRS, CEPN, University Paris 13) the President of the morning session
• 10h-10h20 – Bertrand Crettez (CRED, University Paris 2), “Pareto-minimality in the jungle”
• 10h20-10h30 – Discussant: Jean-Michel Courtault (CEPN, University Paris 13)
• 10h30-10h45 – Open floor discussion

10h45-11h – Coffee break

• 11h-11h20 – Peter Leeson (George Mason University), “Regulating quack medicine”
• 11h20-11h30 – Discussant: Samira Guennif (CEPN, University Paris 13)
• 11h30-11h45 – Open floor discussion
• 11h45-12h05 – Philippe Batifoulier (CEPN, University Paris 13), Nicolas Da Silva (CEPN, University Paris 13) and Mehrdad Vahabi (University Paris 13), “A theory of predatory welfare state and the French exception: citizen welfare”
• 12h05-12h15 – Discussant: Laurent Baronian (CEPN, University Paris 13)
• 12h15-12h30 – Open floor discussion

12h30-14h – Lunch break

14h-16h35 – Afternoon session

• 14h-14h05 – Introduction by Thierry Kirat (CNRS, University of Paris 9), the President of the afternoon session
• 14h05-14h25 – Stergios Skaperdas (University of California, Irvine), “For-Profit states and big Gods”
• 14h25-14h35 – Discussant: Renaud Bellais (Institutional advisor of CEO, MBDA)
• 14h35-14h50 – Open floor discussion
• 14h50-15h10 – Gert Tingaard Svendsen (Aarhus University, Department of Political Science), “From raider to ruler in a predatory State: The case of Viking Age England”
• 15h10-15h20 – Discussant: Olivier Musy (CRED, Université Paris 2)
• 15h20-15h35 – Open floor discussion

Coffee break 15h35-15h50

• 15h50-16h10 – Antoine Pietri (Institute for Strategic research, IRSEM) and Mehrdad Vahabi (CEPN, University Paris 13), “State predation in historical perspective: the case of Ottoman MÜSADERE practice during 1695-1839”
• 16h10-16h20 – Discussant: Riccardo Magnani (CEPN, University Paris 13)
• 16h20-16h3 – Open floor discussion
• 16h35-16h40 – Closing word: Nicolas Da Silva (Organizing committee)

Organization

Committee: Hannah Bensussan, Nicolas Da Silva, Victor Duchesne, Jhonatan Saldana, Adriano Joaquim do Vale Salgueiro, Emma Tyrou.

With the financial and material supports of Université Paris 13, Maison des Sciences de l’Homme Paris Nord and IUT de Villetaneuse