Mission of the Observatoire de la Finance

Created in 1996, the Observatoire de la Finance's foundation is a think tank where the financial world could study and debate issues of individual and collective responsibility.

The economy is nowadays the heart of society, and at the heart of the economy is finance. This covers more than just financial techniques, instruments and institutions: it also includes the models, mindsets and values they implicitly or explicitly stand for. The links between finance – in this broad sense – and contemporary society therefore have crucial implications for the economic, cultural and ethical future of the planet. They can only be viable (or, as some would say, sustainable) in the long term if they are based on the pursuit of the common good, which in turn will depend not only on technical skills but also on the goodwill of the principal players.

The Observatoire de la Finance’s mission is to encourage account to be taken of the demands of the common good, both in and through financial activities. The methods we use are continuous dialogue and independent, informed, serious, interdisciplinary – in other words, critical – reflection, involving both practitioners and theorists.

The Observatoire de la Finance works closely with a range of organisations and individuals from the financial community, including professional organisations, national and international regulators, universities and the media, as well as various community and civil society organisations, alongside spiritual and religious centres.

Download our Manifesto for Finance that Serves the Common Good

Our beliefs

Our work is based on three firm beliefs:

Financial activities are essential to progress and development, and are a key economic instrument in pursuing these goals, but are not an end in themselves.

The common good is not a social project, but results from the actions (which need not be concerted) of players concerned with both the good of the individual and that of the community.

Those who are aware of the demands of the common good can take account of them in every facet of their work as decision-makers or communicators.

Objectives

Observatoire de la Finance activities are aimed at:

Developing and formulating ideas. The Observatoire engages in inquiry and multidisciplinary diagnosis regarding selected aspects of finance and its relationship to society.

Proposing new leads. Following this process of inquiry, the Observatoire compares, tests and refines the various diagnoses and the most promising avenues in consultation with the operators and institutions concerned.

Implementing processes to enhance the ethical content of the technical debate.

 

Our last activities reports

See our activities during 2006 (in French only).

See our activities during 2007 (in French only).