Abstract:
This working paper gathers two texts. The first one evokes the personality and work of Jules Dupuit, whose famous 1844's contribution is generally viewed as the founding piece of public cost benefit analysis. The second paper presents the content of the opening conference of the "Journ ées de l'Association Française de Sciences Economiques", held at Rennes, (France) on May 18th and 19th 2004. It treats of the subject: On (improving) the utility of public cost benefit analysis.