author
Charles Rist
1874–1955
A leading French economist of the early 20th century, he moved between university life, central banking, and public policy. His work on money, credit, and financial stability made him an influential voice in France and beyond.
1 Audiobook
A history of economic doctrines : from the time of the physiocrats to the present day
by Charles Gide, Charles Rist
About the author
Born in Prilly, Switzerland, on January 1, 1874, Charles Rist became one of the major French economists of his era. He taught first at the University of Montpellier and later at the Faculty of Law in Paris, building a reputation as a careful thinker on monetary and financial questions.
Rist was not only an academic. He served as deputy governor of the Banque de France from 1926 to 1929 and advised central banks abroad, linking economic theory with real-world policy. In 1933, he helped found the Institut de recherches économiques et sociales (IRES), reflecting his long interest in serious economic research.
He was recognized internationally during his lifetime, including election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. Charles Rist died in January 1955, and he remains best remembered for his writing and public service in the fields of money, credit, and economic policy.