He was an all-encompassing economist: Jean-Paul Fitoussi researched and taught at universities in several countries, he organized conferences, he advised politicians and he liked to express himself in the media.
Born in Tunisia in 1942, the Frenchman was publicly regarded as a typical Keynesian with a strong focus on demand-side politics, although he did not identify himself with any school.
However, Fitoussi saw financial and monetary policy as an obligation to defend against crises.
Business cycle research was a field in which Fitoussi had worked in Parisian institutions for many years after completing his studies in Strasbourg.
He liked to look beyond the borders of France.
Fitoussi published with American Nobel Prize winners, but he was particularly close to Italy, where he also taught for many years – including at the European University Institute in Florence, but also in Rome.
Like many Italian economists, he firmly rejected austerity policies.
Less well known are Fitoussi's frequent statements in favor of an economic policy that also considers the supply conditions of an economy to be important.
He expected employees to be willing to be mobile and organize their working hours flexibly.
He did consider structural reforms in encrusted countries with excessive bureaucracy to be important.
Jean-Paul Fitoussi died in Paris on Thursday night at the age of 79.