Bertrand de Jouvenel

Bertrand de Jouvenel (1903–1987) was a French political economist and philosopher best known for his analysis of political authority and the growth of the modern state. His most influential book, *Du Pouvoir* (published in English as *On Power*), examines how power expands over time and how institutions and public opinion can enable that expansion. He also wrote *The Ethics of Redistribution*, a study of the moral arguments surrounding taxation and the transfer of wealth. Jouvenel’s work is frequently cited in debates on liberty, government limits, and the ethical foundations of public policy.