Jean-baptiste say : ecrits sur la monnaie, la banque et la finance

Jean-baptiste say : writings on money, banking and finance

• Auteur / Autrice : André Tiran
• Direction : Jean-Michel Servet
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Sciences économiques
• Date : Soutenance en 1994
• Etablissement(s) : Lyon 2

Mots clés

Mots clés contrôlés

Say, Jean-Baptiste (1767-1832)

Banques

Monnaie

Résumé

L'analyse des ecrits de j. B say sur la monnaie, la banque et la finance impliquait la maitrise du contexte culturel, monetaire et financier de la periode 1767-1832. En deuxieme lieu, il fallait etablir la conception globale des rapports entre individu et societe chez say qui est celle de l'interet eclaire. Enfin, la lecture des ecrits a repose sur un travail biographique approfondi, une prise en compte de la totalite des ecrits et le refus d'une lecture retrospective. Say developpe une conception de la monnaie qui est a l'oppose de toute idee de substance. Sa vision globale du phenomene monetaire englobe sous le concept d'agent de la circulation ma monnaie metallique et les signes monetaires (billets, lettre de change). La seule fonction de la monnaie est pour lui de servir a la circulation des valeurs. Les fonctions d'unite de compte et de reserve de valeur n'existent que dans le domaine de l7economie politique pratique. Sur ce point, son objectif est de limiter au maximum l'emprise de l'etat. Dans sa theorie de la banque. Say part d'une position de free banking pur, pour ensuite evoluer vers un free banking impur. La dette publique est consideree comme totalement improductive et menacant la democratie par les moyens du'elle donne aux gouvernements. Sur le plan technique, son souci est de doter l'economie francaise d'une monnais flexible, sure et stable. Say n'a jamais ete un partisan de la version triviale de la theorie quantitative mais tout au plus un partisan de la version substantielle de cette theorie. La loi des debouches comporte de nombreuses versions qui combinent a la fois une logique de circuit et une logique de marches interdependants. Say lui meme n'a jamais ete un partisan inconditionnel de la loi des marches et ne la considere pas comme son principale apport a la science economique.

First, studying jb say's writings on money, banking and finance involved comprehensive knowledge of the cultural, monetary and financial background of the period from 1767 to 1832. Then, it was necessary to establish the over all conception of the relation between the individual and society, in say's works, which is based on the notion of enlightened interest. Eventually, the reading of say's works was based on a thorough biographical analysis, taking into account the whole bulk of the writings as well as rejecting any retrospective scrutiny. Say conceived of money as something running counter to any notion of substance. His all embracing vision of the monetary phenomenon brought together coined money along with paper money (such as notes and bills of exchange) as "agent of the circulation". According to him, money was only meant to facilitate the exchange of values. The notions of "unit of account" and "value conservation" were only valid in the field of prrgmatic, political economy. In this respect he aimed at restricting sate control as much as possible. In his theory of banking. Say moved from the concept of pure free banking to limited free banking. The national debt was considered as entiryly umproductive and a threat to democracy because of the powers it gave to governements. From a theonical point of view, he aimed the providing french economy with a flexible, safe and stable currency. Say had never been an advocate of the commonplace version of the quantitative theory, but at the most, an advocate of the substantial version of that theory. The law of markets offered many different version combining a set distribution network with interdependent markets. Say had never been a staumch advocate of the law of markets and did not regard it as his main contribut to economics.