Jacques Claude Marie Vincent de Gournay (French:[dəɡuʁnɛ]; 28 May 1712,Saint-Malo,Province of Brittany – 27 June 1759,Cádiz), was a Frencheconomist, who became anintendant of commerce. Some historians of economics believe that he coined the phraselaissez faire, laissez passer.[1] Evidence was to be found when the French State parted theEast India Company privilege (monopoly) on the slave trade. He is also credited with coining the term "bureaucracy". Together withFrançois Quesnay, whose disciple he was,[1] he was a leader of thePhysiocratic School.
Gournay's father was Claude Vincent, a merchant in Saint-Malo as well as a secretary to the king.[2] Gournay didn't write much, but had a great influence on French economic thought through his conversations with many important theorists. He became instrumental in popularizing the work ofRichard Cantillon in France.[3]
Gournay was appointed anintendant du commerce in 1751. One of the main themes of his term in office was his opposition to government regulations because of what he saw as the way they stunted commerce. He coined the termbureaucratie (lit. 'government by desks') to describe the situation.[4] Gournay's disdain for government regulation of commerce influenced his discipleTurgot.[5]
Gournay's first name is often mistakenly given as "Jean", due to an error made by Turgot in his letter toJean-François Marmontel known asIn Praise of Gournay.[6]
A street in Saint-Malo, theRue Vincent-de-Gournay, takes its name from him.[7]
To symbolize a government run by insensitive rule-makers and rule-enforcers who did not care about the consequences of their actions, he coined the sarcastic term 'bureaucratie' - government by desks.
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