Christian LAGARDE
1952–2019
Christian Lagarde earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Paris X Nanterre in 1986 with a dissertation on a topic that has always fascinated him: “The Law of the Tendency of the Rate of Profit to Fall,” under the supervision of Professor Jacques Valier. He was hired at the University of Montpellier 1 and then appointed to a tenured position as a Maître de Conférences on January 1, 1988. Christian Lagarde took his teaching mission to heart, and his students held him in particularly high regard. They fondly remember the legendary first-year course he taught for many years in the Faculty of Economics, as well as the epistemology course in the Doctoral School of Economics and Management, which he was scheduled to teach again this year. Christian Lagarde’s academic career was also marked by a very high level of involvement in the Faculty of Economics, as well as at the University. His rigor, political acumen, and in-depth knowledge of how institutions of higher education function enabled him to carry out all the responsibilities entrusted to him with great efficiency. As Director of the Department of Economics for ten years, from 2004 to 2014, he profoundly modernized the department’s organization and management during his two terms and established a robust system for overseeing the academic programs. He also created and oversaw two particularly attractive university degree programs and significantly expanded international partnerships by establishing dual-degree programs (with the Externado University of Colombia, the University of Valparaíso, and the University of San Luis de Potosí). Christian Lagarde was equally active and dedicated at the university level. As Vice President for General and Statutory Affairs at the University of Montpellier 1 from 2009 to 2014—a position to which he was reappointed at the University of Montpellier—he carried out numerous responsibilities, such as ensuring the legal soundness of procedures, championing the quality initiative at the political level, and leading the rollout of management tools. Since its creation in 2009, he had also been deeply involved in the “Université de Montpellier Entreprendre” University Foundation, first as Vice President and then as President. In addition to his roles at the University, Christian Lagarde held numerous responsibilities outside our institution. He had served as President of Crédit Mutuel Enseignant Languedoc–Roussillon since its founding in February 2012. Since December 2012, he had also served as Chair of the Conference of Deans of the Faculties of Economics and Management; in this capacity, he had been a member of the monitoring committee for the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and “ PhD ” programs since its creation. A member of the Board of Directors of the Confucius Institute in Montpellier since September 2013, he became its Chair in November 2015.
- Associate Professor, Officer of the Order of Academic Palms
RESEARCH AREAS
- Epistemology of Economics, Marxist Analysis