Jacques Attali French economist and scientist, major politician and writer Date of Birth: 01.11.1943 Country: France

1. Jacques Attali: French Economist, Intellectual, and Politician
2. Advisor to President François Mitterrand
3. President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
4. Founder of PlaNet Finance and Economic Growth Advocate
5. Early Life and Education
6. Musical Interests and Recognition

Jacques Attali: French Economist, Intellectual, and Politician

Jacques Attali is a renowned French economist, intellectual, and politician. He is an author of several books and numerous essays, including "Noise: The Political Economy of Music" and "Lignes d'horizon."

Advisor to President François Mitterrand

From 1981 to 1991, Attali served as an advisor to French President François Mitterrand. However, in 2005, he cast doubt on Mitterrand's past as both a mid-level functionary in the Vichy administration and a member of the Resistance, publishing an essay titled "C'était François Mitterrand."

President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

In April 1991, Attali became the first president of the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EBRD was established by Western governments to assist Eastern and Central Europe, as well as former Soviet Union countries, in their transition to democratic market economies. Attali led the bank until 1993.

Founder of PlaNet Finance and Economic Growth Advocate

In 1998, Attali founded PlaNet Finance, a French non-profit organization focused on microfinance. He currently heads and chairs the Commission pour la libération de la croissance française, a commission dedicated to fostering economic growth in France.

Early Life and Education

Jacques Attali was born into a Jewish family on November 1, 1943, in Algiers, Algeria, alongside his twin brother Bernard Attali, who became a prominent businessman and politician. Their father was a self-made man who established a successful jewelry and perfume business. In 1956, the family moved to Paris due to the Algerian War of Independence.

Attali attended the prestigious Lycée Janson-de-Sailly in Paris and completed his studies at École Polytechnique, one of Europe's leading engineering schools, in 1966. He holds degrees in mining engineering, economics, and administration from the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and the École Nationale d'Administration.

Musical Interests and Recognition

Attali is a talented musician who played the piano and wrote songs for French singer Barbara. He authored "Noise," an essay exploring the economic impact and societal influence of music. Today, he supports the student journal "Jeune République" and has conducted the Orchestre Universitaire de Grenoble, performing works ranging from Bach's violin concertos to Mendelssohn's concertos.