Claire Lemercier

Claire Lemercier is a CNRS Research Director affiliated with the Center for the Sociology of Organizations (CSO), Center for History (CHSP), and the Department of History at Sciences Po. Her research bridges history, sociology, and economics, focusing on institutions at the intersection of public and private spheres, particularly those regulating economic activities.

• Research Themes: Historical sociology of economic institutions, law and regulation, governance, and network analysis.
• Projects: LAWYERS ADVICE (access to justice), historical analysis of commercial courts, and merchant-apprenticeship relationships.
• Teaching: Workshop on quantitative data in historical research with Claire Zalc.
• Leadership: Scientific Council (2014-2018), Joint Administrative Commission of the CNRS (2021-), Committee for Open Science (CoSO).

Her work emphasizes quantitative methods in history, including prosopography and network analysis, which she has promoted for over fifteen years. She co-authored Quantitative Methods in the Humanities: An Introduction (2019), a key reference in methodological innovation.

Recent publications highlight trends in legal and economic history, with sub-fields spanning international arbitration, public service reform, network analysis, and financialization. Her interdisciplinary approach connects historical data to broader sociological and economic theories.

• Awards: CNRS Bronze Medal (2008), Crédit Agricole Business History Prize (2012).
• Editorial Roles: Member of the editorial board of Enterprise & Society (2009-).

Claire Lemercier collaborates with researchers like Laure Blévis and Claire Zalc, contributing to the CRISIS Lab and the Networks and History group. Her work spans from 18th-century apprenticeships to modern corporate governance, reflecting a commitment to uncovering historical patterns through data-driven methods.