Economy

Demeter

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51. Thomas Piketty Refuses Big Award: Government Shouldn't 'Decide Who Is Honorable'

Thu Jan 1, 2015, 07:17 PM

Jan 2015

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/01/thomas-piketty-legion-of-honor_n_6403790.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business

Posted: 01/01/2015 11:45 am EST Updated: 01/01/2015 11:59 am EST
THOMAS PIKETTY

Economist Thomas Piketty refused to accept France's highest honor, the Legion d'honneur, saying government shouldn't decide who is honorable.

"I have just learned that I was nominated for the Legion of honour. I refuse this nomination because I do not think it is the government's role to decide who is honorable," Piketty told AFP.

"They would do better to concentrate on reviving economic growth in France and Europe," Piketty added.

According to Reuters, Piketty was nominated for the honor on Thursday along with Nobel Economics laureate Jean Tirole and Nobel Literature prize winner Patrick Modiano. The Legion d'honnneur is awarded by President Francois Hollande.

Piketty's book Capital in the 21st Century, which addresses capitalism and income inequality, was a best-seller in 2014.

NOBODY CAN BE AS CHURLISH AS A FRENCHMAN

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