Jacques Claude Marie Vincent de Gournay facts for kids
Vincent de Gournay was an important French economist born on May 28, 1712, in Saint-Malo, France. He passed away on June 27, 1759, in Cádiz. He is famous for his ideas about how countries should manage their money and trade. Many people believe he came up with two very well-known phrases: "laissez faire, laissez passer" and "bureaucracy."
Gournay didn't write many books himself. However, he had a huge impact on economic thinking in France. He did this by talking and sharing his ideas with many other important thinkers of his time. He was also a follower of another famous economist, François Quesnay. Together, they were leaders of a group called the Physiocratic School. This group believed that a country's wealth came mainly from its land and farming.
Ideas That Changed Economics
Vincent de Gournay is often given credit for creating the phrase laissez faire, laissez passer. This French phrase means "let do, let pass." It's a big idea in economics that suggests the government should interfere as little as possible in business and trade. The idea is that if businesses are left alone, they will naturally find the best ways to operate.
He also coined the term "bureaucracy." This word describes a system of government where decisions are made by many different officials and departments, often following strict rules. Gournay used the term bureaucratie (which literally means "government by desks") to describe how he felt about too many government rules.
Fighting Against Too Many Rules
In 1751, Gournay was appointed an intendant du commerce. This was a government job where he oversaw trade and business. A major part of his work was to oppose government regulations. He believed that too many rules and laws actually slowed down trade and stopped businesses from growing. He thought these regulations were like chains holding back the economy.
His strong dislike for government control over business influenced his student, Turgot. Turgot later became a very important minister in France and tried to put some of Gournay's ideas into practice.
His Lasting Impact
Even though he didn't write much, Gournay's conversations and ideas spread widely. He helped make the work of economist Richard Cantillon popular in France. His thoughts on "laissez faire" and his criticism of "bureaucracy" continue to be discussed in economics today.
A street in his hometown of Saint-Malo, called the Rue Vincent-de-Gournay, is named after him. This shows how important he was to his community and to the history of economic thought.
