Marcel Boiteux
- September 6, 2023
- 101 years
About Marcel Boiteux
Marcel Boiteux, 101, French economist, mathematician, and civil servant.
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Full Biography
|Marcel Boiteux (French pronunciation: [maʁsɛl bwatø]; 9 May 1922 – 6 September 2023) was a French economist, mathematician, and senior civil service member. He was the "architect of the French nuclear program" that created 61 nuclear reactors and kept the French electricity sector less carbon-intensive than other European countries.
Boiteux joined Électricité de France (EDF) in 1949 as a student of Maurice Allais and remained there for the rest of his career. In 1959, Marcel Boiteux became the President of the Econometric Society. From 1967 through 1987, he was the director of EDF. He theorized and implemented the price of electricity at marginal cost, and was one of the architects of France's nuclear industry development.
His journey illuminates a social environment (that of scientists and senior civil services), a research process (marginal cost), a large company and its strategy, public sector career and power mechanisms, State-public-company relations, and decision-making processes on important issues such as nuclear policy.
Early life
Marcel Boiteux was born in Niort on 9 May 1922. He graduated from the Ecole Normale in 1942 and received his mathematics aggregation in 1946. In 1947, he also graduated, in the economics section, from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris.
Career
His professional career began in 1946 when he entered the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), under the responsibility of Maurice Allais and having Gérard Debreu as a colleague.
Boiteux joined EDF on 1 April 1949 as an engineer in the sales department on Allais' recommendation.
Boiteux turned 100 on 9 May 2022, and died on 6 September 2023, at the age of 101.
Recognition
On 14 December 1992, he was elected to the chair left vacant by Émile James' death in the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
Works
- Boiteux, Marcel (January 1956). "Sur la Gestation des Monopoles Publics astreints a l'equilibre budgetaire" (PDF). Econometrica. 24 (1): 22–40.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Boiteux
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Marcel Boiteux's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what French city was Marcel Boiteux born?
- A.Paris
- B.Marseille
- C.Niortcorrect
- D.Lyon
Marcel Boiteux was born in Niort on 9 May 1922.
Source: Early life section
2.What academic subject did Marcel Boiteux focus on for his aggregation in 1946?
- A.Political Science
- B.Mathematicscorrect
- C.Economics
- D.Physics
Marcel Boiteux received his mathematics aggregation in 1946.
Source: Early life section
3.At which institution did Marcel Boiteux begin his professional career in 1946?
- A.Econometric Society
- B.Institute of Political Studies
- C.Électricité de France
- D.National Center for Scientific Researchcorrect
Marcel Boiteux entered the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in 1946.
Source: Career section
4.In what year did Marcel Boiteux join Électricité de France (EDF)?
- A.1959
- B.1942
- C.1946
- D.1949correct
Marcel Boiteux joined EDF on 1 April 1949 as an engineer.
Source: Career section
5.Who recommended that Marcel Boiteux join the sales department at EDF?
- A.Mark Nelson
- B.Émile James
- C.Maurice Allaiscorrect
- D.Gérard Debreu
Marcel Boiteux joined EDF on Allais' recommendation.
Source: Career section
6.What title was Marcel Boiteux given in relation to the French nuclear program?
- A.Minister of Nuclear Energy
- B.Architect of the French nuclear programcorrect
- C.Chief Nuclear Inspector
- D.Head of Reactor Operations
Marcel Boiteux was known as the architect of the French nuclear program.
Source: General summary
7.In what year did Marcel Boiteux become the President of the Econometric Society?
- A.1946
- B.1959correct
- C.1956
- D.1967
Marcel Boiteux became the President of the Econometric Society in 1959.
Source: General summary
8.What economic concept did Marcel Boiteux theorize and implement at EDF?
- A.Marginal cost pricingcorrect
- B.Subsidized energy distribution
- C.Fixed rate pricing
- D.Privatization of electricity
Marcel Boiteux theorized and implemented the price of electricity at marginal cost.
Source: General summary
9.When was Marcel Boiteux elected to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences?
- A.2023
- B.2002
- C.1992correct
- D.1987
Marcel Boiteux was elected to the academy on 14 December 1992.
Source: Recognition section
10.Whose chair did Marcel Boiteux occupy upon his election to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences?
- A.Maurice Allais
- B.Gérard Debreu
- C.Émile Jamescorrect
- D.Mark Nelson
Marcel Boiteux was elected to the chair left vacant by Émile James' death.
Source: Recognition section
11.What is the title of the article Marcel Boiteux published in Econometrica in 1956?
- A.Sur la Gestation des Monopoles Publics astreints a l'equilibre budgetairecorrect
- B.The French Electricity Sector Strategy
- C.The Future of Nuclear Power
- D.Electricity and Marginal Cost
Marcel Boiteux published an article titled Sur la Gestation des Monopoles Publics astreints a l'equilibre budgetaire in 1956.
Source: Works section
12.How old was Marcel Boiteux when he died?
- A.102
- B.101correct
- C.99
- D.100
Marcel Boiteux died on 6 September 2023 at the age of 101.
Source: Career section
13.Who was a colleague of Marcel Boiteux at the National Center for Scientific Research?
- A.Mark Nelson
- B.Gérard Debreucorrect
- C.Maurice Allais
- D.Émile James
Marcel Boiteux had Gérard Debreu as a colleague while at the CNRS.
Source: Career section
14.How many nuclear reactors did the program associated with Marcel Boiteux create?
- A.61correct
- B.51
- C.71
- D.41
Marcel Boiteux was the architect of the program that created 61 nuclear reactors.
Source: General summary
15.From which institution did Marcel Boiteux graduate with an economics degree in 1947?
- A.CNRS
- B.Academy of Moral and Political Sciences
- C.Ecole Normale
- D.Institute of Political Studiescorrect
Marcel Boiteux graduated in the economics section from the Institute of Political Studies in 1947.
Source: Early life section
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