They are everywhere, we cannot escape them; they follow us and pursue us: the numbers! They are the ones that are used to form the numbers, which the world of commerce uses to construct its accounts, and which the State takes advantage of to govern better. So, as Patrick McGoohan, who played number 6 in the series, said The prisonerin the 1960s (damn, another number): “I am not a Number, I am a free man!”
Public figures and statistics under the Ancien Régime
Under the Ancien Régime, it is difficult to talk about public figures and private figures, because these categories do not have the relevance they have today. The public domain refers to the king, and in particular to the taxation and taxes that power decrees. However, the king’s personal expenses are included as public expenses. The notion of public finances is still vague.
The State has exercised control over private accounts since the Ancien Régime, through the Commerce Ordinance of 1673, which obliges merchants to keep accounts, and establishes public control of quantified data. At the same time, the rise of calculation and political economy contributed to the advent of a scientific approach to the economy, notably through political arithmetic, the aim of which was to measure the wealth of States. .
Historian Anne Conchon notes that “the relative importance of the figure reflects the transformations of economies and societies over the long term.” She cites Alfred Crosby’s reference work, The Measurement of Reality: Quantification in Western Society (1250-1600)which shows “a rise in the introduction of numbers since the medieval period”. The historian raises the “intellectual, social, political demand for measurements, mathematization of realities, quantification. This phenomenon grows in the modern period and particularly in the 17th century with the scientific revolution”.
The Scientific Method Listen later
listen 58 min
Statistical ambition in the face of secrecy
The figures are generally the result of a hybridization between public and private actors, which is not without its share of resistance and conflicts. Private actors often see State intervention as a breach of family or business confidentiality, particularly in matters of taxation. However, for the State, it is essential to produce and use figures and statistics, in order to legitimize its position and its power. The State’s statistical ambition comes up against the reluctance, even the mistrust, of private actors, who fear the publication of their data, and can sometimes refuse to cooperate. However, public statistics are inevitably dependent on private figures.
The Course of History Listen later
listen 58 min
In the contemporary period, public statistics are gradually becoming hegemonic. A centralized and powerful public statistics service was gradually established, with the creation of the General Statistics of France (SGF) in 1833, then of the National Statistics Service (SNS) in 1941, under the Vichy regime, and finally from INSEE in 1946, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies for France and Overseas. The second half of the 20th century nevertheless saw the strengthening of the power of private figures, through globalization and the generalization of digital technology, which goes hand in hand with multiple challenges to public figures.
To know more
Anne Conchon is professor of modern history at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. His research in economic and social history focuses on corporate privileges, taxation and finance, and economic knowledge.
She notably published:
- Dictionary of Ancien Régime Franceco-written with Isabelle Paresys and Bruno Maës, Armand Colin, 2004
- The Toll in France in the 18th century. Privileges put to the test of reformCHIEF, 2002
Béatrice Touchelay is professor of contemporary history at the University of Lille. His research in economic and social history focuses on the history of statistics, business accounting, taxes and control.
She notably published:
- Historical Dictionary of Business Accountingco-edited with Nicolas Praquin and Didier Bensadon, Presses universitaire du Septentrion, 2016
- The chartered accountant brand serving the economy. 70 years of historyco-written with Fabien Cardoni Cliomédia, 2013
- The State and the Company. A history of French accounting and tax standardizationRennes University Press, 2011
- The Factory of Chartered Accountants. A History of INTEC 1931-2011co-written with Samuel Sponem and Luc Marco, L’Harmattan, 2011
- The Genesis of the decision, public figures, private figures in 20th century Franceco-directed with Philippe Verheyde, Éditions Bière, 2009
Anne Conchon and Béatrice Touchelay co-edited with Fabien Cardoni and Michel Margairaz, the work Private figures, public figures 17th-21st century. Between hybridizations and conflictsRennes University Press, 2022.
Anne Conchon cited the work The Measurement of Reality: Quantification in Western Society (1250-1600) by Alfred W. Crosby, published in 1997 by Cambridge University Press.
Sound references
- Reading by Lara Bruhl of the article “Cypher” from the Encyclopedia of Diderot and d’Alembert, 1751
- Chanson Ah! if I had a franc fifty by Boris Vian and his orchestra
- Archive of a report on the creation of INSEE, JT Toulouse evening, 1996
- Chanson Have you declared your income? par Georges Milton, 1933
- Credits music: Gender by Makoto San, 2020
2024-01-11 09:59:40
#Counting #govern #story #numbers #stats #episode #podcast #State #economy #story #power
