As a tribute to Jean-Paul Fitoussi’s fundamental contribution to economic theory and intellectual thinking, Luiss University has dedicated a full-day conference session to the brilliant economist and intellectual who passed away about one year ago.

Jean-Paul Fitoussi was rigorous and passionate a scholar: an economist strongly interested in society, he grounded his works in making society better and reducing inequalities. Luiss has always cherished his valuable approach, which was – and is – in line with its goal to prepare a new ruling class in an ethical, responsible and open perspective.

The conference, which ended with my closing remarks, was opened by Luiss’ President Vincenzo Boccia, Vice-President Paola Severino and General Manager Giovanni Lo Storto.

My warmest thanks to Annie, Lisa and David Fitoussi, Mario Amendola, Luigi Bonatti, Massimo Egidi, Jean-Luc Gaffard, Mauro Gallegati, Enrico Giovannini, Filomena Maggino, Stefano Manzocchi, Valentina Meliciani, Marcello Messori, Stefano Micossi, Pier Carlo Padoan, Luigi Paganetto, Corrado Passera, Xavier Ragot, Lucrezia Reichlin, Richard Robb, Francesco Saraceno, Maria Savona, Giovanni Tria, Giovanna Vallanti, Gelsomina Vigliotti, the prominent speakers and friends of Jean-Paul’s: with their inspiring and thought-provoking insights, they have made it possible to recall the essential lines of the scholar while in the same time drawing some of the most significant features of Jean-Paul as a person.