Prof Jean Tirole, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2014, was hosted by the Indian Institute of Management Amritsar (IIM Amritsat), on the 23rd of November, 2022. Prof Tirole delivered a lecture on the topic “Are Markets Moral?” at Hotel Radisson Blu Amritsar, as a part of the CEFIPRA Lecture Series.
The event was co-organised by IIM Amritsar and the Indo-French Center for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA), which strives to provide quality information exchange between India and France. Apart from Prof Tirole, the program was graced with the presence of Prof Nagarajan Ramamoorthy, Director, IIM Amritsar, Prof Nitin Seth, Director, CEFIPRA, Prof Didier Raboisson, Senior Official, French Embassy to India, and Prof Mahima Gupta, Dean, Academics and Programs, IIM Amritsar.
talked about multiple facets of the issue- starting with defining ‘Morality’. He then went on to discuss deeply the fragility of moral behaviour with various examples. Prof Tirole kept posing pertinent questions to the distinguished crowd and ended this discussion on a very profound question; as to whether economics is a moral and philosophical science. Prof Tirole carried the lecture forward by discussing whether markets frame ethical choices, and the talk touched upon various factors pertaining to market morality- like Corporate Social Responsibility.
The lecture was followed by an engaging interactive session between Prof Tirole and the attendees. Apart from the faculty, staff, and students of IIM Amritsar, the event was attended by dignitaries from the industry and academia. IIT Kanpur, IIM Sirmaur, and GNDU were just a few of the colleges which sent dignitaries to attend the event. The program was also streamed live on IIM Amritsar’s and CEFIPRA’s YouTube channels.
