Olivier Brette

Olivier Brette is a Lecturer in Economics at the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) in Lyon, France. He is affiliated with the Humanities Center at INSA Lyon and contributes to the Triangle - UMR 5206 research unit. His academic career includes a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from Lumière Lyon 2 University (2004), awarded with distinction. He has held roles such as co-facilitator of Theme 6 (“Urbanizations, Globalizations, Capitalisms”) at LabEx IMU since 2011 and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Economic Issues.

Research interests focus on evolutionary and institutionalist economic thought, circular economy transitions, and the history of economic thought. Key themes include the application of generalized Darwinism to institutional analysis, the economic implications of Herbert Simon’s work, and sustainability in industrial practices like bio-based plastics. His interdisciplinary approach bridges economic history, institutional dynamics, and policy analysis.

Notable awards include the 2007 Veblen 150 Prize for researchers under 35. His work spans peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference presentations, often collaborating with institutions like GREDEG and Triangle. He also contributes to policy-oriented projects such as the BIOLOOP initiative on bio-sourced polymers.