Stéphane Straub

Welcome to my web page

Currently, I am professeur associe
Toulouse School of Economics,
Arqade

stephane.straub@univ-tlse1.fr

Research and Publications

Teaching

Consulting

CV

Economic links

Non economic writings

Paraguay

Scotland

Other

Short bio.

Hello!

I was born in 1966 in Meknes (Morocco), from French parents. My father was fulfilling his military duties there, so I spent the first three years of my life in this sunny landscape. We then moved to London (shortly) and Paris, where I completed my studies.

In 1989, after finishing a master degree at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, I decided to go on an trip to South America, in search of some adventure. From 1989 to 1998, I lived in Paraguay. Having soon given up the idea to come back to Europe, I spent he first five years in Ka’arendy (Juan León Mallorquín), Alto Paraná, a village near the triple Paraguayan/Brazilian/Argentinean border and the Iguazu falls , where I have been among others an entrepreneur in the wood sector, a school teacher in physics and chemistry, a manual worker, and a clothes seller…

From 1991 to 93, I also collaborated with the Paraguayan Kolping Society, the local branch of a Catholic German International Organization for Integrated Human Development, which I briefly directed. Together with other members of the organization, we formed groups across the country, especially in rural areas, and provided them with human, civic and religious formation, as well as some economic help to kick start self-sustaining projects.

Coming back to the field of economics, I worked at CEPPRO (an NGO doing applied research/formation/publications, etc…), from 1994 to 1996. I developed economic courses, gave conferences to varied audiences (school teachers, taxi drivers, journalists, etc..) and did a lot of reports on the Paraguayan economy. During that times, I started collaborating with some local newspapers, radios and television channels, giving episodic opinion on economic and social issues.

From 1996 to 1998, I was a personal adviser to the planning minister of Paraguay. This involved analysis of economic issues. I also participated in the elaboration of a country strategic development plan, which unfortunately had little effect due to what economists call problems of governance (between the lines, read corruption, red tape, and bureaucratic inefficiencies). I also worked as an independent consultant and on some more academic oriented research projects. Finally, from 1994 to 1998, I have also lectured economics at the Catholic University, both in Asunción and Ciudad del Este, and, from time to time at the National University in Asunción.

I have written a narrative (in French) of my ten years in Paraguay in (hopefully) forthcoming book, of which you can read some excerpts here .

I married my wife (a native of Juan E.O'Leary, 12 kilometers away from Ka'arendy) in 1995 and our daughter was born in september 1996. In 1998, we decided to embark in a new adventure and cross back the atlantic so they would both discover Europe. I therefore came back to Toulouse, where I planned to complete a PhD in economics.

There, I had the privilege to meet Jean-Jacques Laffont , who to my surprise, accepted to be my PhD supervisor. This was a wonderful time, in which I learned more than I could expect and I embarked in exciting research projects, thanks to his kindness and his exceptional capacity to push people to ask the right questions. Unfortunately, Jean-Jacques Laffont felt ill shortly after I completed my thesis in 2002, and he died in May 2004. I always thought that meeting human beings is the great and foremost adventure of this world. Meeting him was certainly an unforgettable blessing.

After leaving Toulouse, I spent one year visiting the department of economics at Michigan State University, before taking a permanent position at the University of Edinburgh in August 2003. Finally, starting September 2008, I am professeur associe at Toulouse School of Economics. You can find more formal details about my work and my previous trajectory by navigating the tabs above or in my CV.

Thanks for your visit!