Meet Tristan-Pierre Maury, a committed director and free spirit at the crossroads of knowledge

In his childhood memories, Tristan-Pierre already saw himself in a classroom. The son of a biology teacher and a law professor, he grew up in an environment where the transmission of knowledge was a given. ‘I was naturally drawn to academia,’ he says. ‘From a very early age, I wanted to be at the heart of the knowledge factory, as a researcher or professor.’

Although entering the academic world would prove that this combination of teaching and research was precisely the right fit for him, it was only after much hesitation about a career in cinema: ‘I spent my high school years making short film after short film,’ he recalls. ‘I had this need to invent, to create, but also to explore the human condition, with a passion for documentaries with a social dimension. Thirty years later, I still sometimes wonder what my life might have been like if I had chosen that path.’

His academic career began at Paris-Dauphine University, where he studied mathematics, quickly supplementing his studies with a course in philosophy. He completed both courses at Master's level. This dual requirement – logical rigour and critical thinking – shaped his approach to the social sciences.

He went on to earn a Master's degree in economics, followed by a PhD from the University of Paris-Nanterre. Combining his passion for science, in 2001 he defended his thesis entitled Quantitative Implications of Endogenous Growth for Modelling Fluctuations and Evaluating Economic Policies (1), in which he examined growth models as sustainable or cyclical phenomena.

But his PhD experience left him with mixed feelings: ‘I quickly realised the limitations of the academic world, particularly in terms of research funding in France.’ He then began a career transition, while keeping one foot in teaching. After a stint at the University of Paris-Nanterre (or Paris X) as an Assistant professor, then at the Banque de France as an economist, Tristan-Pierre realised that his fulfilment lay in the classroom. ‘It was a rich experience, but I felt that my place was elsewhere.’

He joined ESSEC in 2004, then EDHEC Business School in 2008, where he has been teaching economics in all its forms, from introductory courses for Pre-Master's students to data for MBA students. ‘As soon as I arrived, I felt that this was the ideal environment. Working with brilliant students in a lively and demanding environment fuels my passion for teaching. This daily contact is not only important for understanding their expectations, but also extremely rewarding when you are able to make a modest contribution to their journey and their success.’ He particularly emphasises the deeply interactive nature of his teaching: ‘A good class is a moment of co-construction. There is always an unexpected moment when the discussion takes a turn, when a new idea emerges. These are precious moments of collective creation that I couldn't do without.’

At EDHEC, his research took a new direction. A mathematician turned economist, Tristan-Pierre now explores issues of segregation, inequality and social diversity at the intersection of economics, demography and anthropology. ‘This interdisciplinary field allows me to transcend disciplinary boundaries and better understand the tensions that run through our society.’

His work has been featured in leading academic journals, such as Demography, with an article published in 2022 on the impact of social housing on income segregation (2), Économie et Statistiques, published by INSEE, for which he co-authored a paper on social diversity and priority education policies in 2021 (3), and Regional Studies, where he published an article in 2024 on the geographical (urban) breakdown of income inequalities in France (4). His work also resonates in public policy. He regularly collaborates with government departments, presents his findings to the Court of Auditors and the General Inspectorate of Finance, and contributes to the press to popularise his analyses. ‘It is very satisfying to see my research contribute, at its own level, to informing public debate and decision-making.’

In 2020, he took charge of the dual degree programme in Public Policy Management, offered at EDHEC in partnership with Sciences Po Lille, before being appointed Director of the Grande École and Masters of Science programmes in 2023. This was a natural progression for him, in line with his commitment to teaching: ‘Whether it's a course or a programme, my role remains the same: to offer stimulating, challenging learning experiences that are open to the world.’

He sees this responsibility as an opportunity to connect his own career path with that of his students. ‘Their aspirations change as the job market evolves: they want hybrid training programmes and cross-disciplinary approaches. It's up to us to guide them towards the careers of tomorrow.’ Above all, this management role is carried out within a close-knit team: ‘I am fortunate to work with around forty wonderful people. Their collective energy drives me every day.’

Tristan-Pierre Maury embodies the figure of a free-thinking intellectual, firmly rooted in reality. As an educator, researcher and decision-maker, he builds bridges between academic knowledge and concrete action. He has given up cinema (for the moment) in order to better convey reality in all its many dimensions. And every morning, he continues to take to the stage – whether in the classroom, in research or in management – with the same desire: to enlighten, share and transform.

Key dates

Since 2023 : Director of the Grande École & Masters of Science, EDHEC Business School

Since 2020 : Director of the dual programme in Public Policy Management (with Sciences Po Lille), EDHEC Business School

Since 2008 : Economics Professor, EDHEC Business School

2004-2008 : Researcher, ESSEC (Paris)

2003-2004 : Economist, Banque de France (Paris)

2001-2003 : Assistant professor, Paris X (Nanterre)

2001 : PhD in Economics (Nanterre)

1998 : DEA (Research master) in economics, Paris X (Nanterre)

1997 : Master's degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy, Paris IV (Sorbonne) and Paris IX (Dauphine)

To know more about Tristan-Pierre Maury

• Visit his personal page on edhec.edu
• Go to his Google Scholar profile

References

(1) Implications quantitatives de la croissance endogène pour la modélisation des fluctuations et l'évaluation des politiques économiques (2001) Thèse de doctorat : Sciences économiques - Paris 10 - https://www.sudoc.abes.fr/cbs/DB=2.1//SRCH?IKT=12&TRM=071356819

(2) Kevin Beaubrun-Diant, Tristan-Pierre Maury; On the Impact of Public Housing on Income Segregation in France. Demography 1 April 2022; 59 (2): 685–706. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-9807596

(3) Courtioux, P. & Maury, T.‑P. (2021). Social Diversity: A Review of Twelve Years of Targeting Priority Education Policies. Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, 528-529, 9–28 (First published online: July 2021). doi: 10.24187/ecostat.2021.528d.2059

(4) Beaubrun-Diant, K., & Maury, T. P. (2023). Income segregation in France: a geographical decomposition across and within urban areas. Regional Studies, 58(3), 442–454 - https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2237531