The Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Économiques (lit.'French Observatory of Economic Cycles'), often referred to by its acronym OFCE, is a prominent French economic policy think tank in Paris. It is mostly government-funded and hosted by the Sciences Po higher education organization. OFCE's research is regularly featured in French media, and it has ongoing relationships with French and European public authorities.[1] As of May 2023, OFCE was ranked 16th worldwide (and first in France) among economic think tanks by the RePEc initiative.[2]

OFCE
Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Économiques
Formation1981
Headquarters10, place de Catalogne
Location
President
Xavier Ragot [fr]
Parent organization
Sciences Po
Websitehttps://www.ofce.sciences-po.fr/

History

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Building at 69, quai d'Orsay in Paris, OFCE seat until 2017

OFCE was founded in 1981 following a 1979 report by René Lenoir [fr] and Baudouin Prot.[3] It was long established in a riverfront building on 69, Quai d'Orsay in Paris, and moved in March 2017 to more modern offices at 10, place de Catalogne.[4]

The successive Presidents of OFCE have been:

In the early 2020s, OFCE President Xavier Ragot has been cited internationally among the top French economists.[8]

Merger with CEPII

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In late 2023, a government-commissioned report by economists Jean-Luc Tavernier [fr] and Nicolas Véron recommended a merger between OFCE and CEPII, another government-funded think tank that focuses on international economics. Upon the report's publication, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne endorsed the recommendation.[9]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques / French Economic Observatory". Development Aid. 25 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Top 25% Think Tanks, as of May 2023". RePEc.
  3. ^ René Lenoir & Baudouin Prot (1979). "L'Information économique et sociale". Gallica. La Documentation Française.
  4. ^ "L'OFCE change d'adresse". Sciences Po. 2017.
  5. ^ Xavier Ragot (19 April 2022). "Jean-Paul Fitoussi, brillant économiste et penseur de la société". OFCE Blog.
  6. ^ Frédéric Schaeffer & Isabelle Couet (24 December 2013). "Vives tensions à la tête de l'OFCE". Les Échos.
  7. ^ Michèle Warnet (12 September 2014). "Xavier Ragot, économiste en chef à l'OFCE". Les Échos.
  8. ^ "Top French economists call for EU's 3% deficit rule to be dropped". Reuters. 13 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Analyse économique et évaluation des politiques publiques". French government website. 22 December 2022.