Book Series Guide
Thomas Piketty

Author guide

Thomas Piketty Books in Order

Thomas Piketty is a French economist, professor at the Paris School of Economics, and director of studies at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales. His work combines economic theory with long-run historical and administrative data to study inequality, wealth, taxation, inheritance, political conflict, and democratic institutions. He is the author or co-author of major works including Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Capital and Ideology, A Brief History of Equality, and A History of Political Conflict.

economicspolitical economyeconomic historysocial sciencepublic policy

Catalog record updated .

Thomas Piketty's Newest Book

Ce que l'égalité veut dire

book · First published 2025

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of Le Capital au XXIe siècle

Le Capital au XXIe siècle

Best-known foundational work and the clearest entry point to Piketty's historical analysis of wealth and inequality.

Cover of Une brève histoire de l'égalité

Une brève histoire de l'égalité

Shorter, more accessible introduction to his account of the long-run struggle toward equality.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Essays and speeches (9)
  1. Pour un traité de démocratisation de l'Europe

    pamphlet · 2017

    Pour un traité de démocratisation de l'Europe Comment contenir le déferlement de la vague populiste qui risque de balayer nos démocraties ? Comment prévenir l'éclatement de l'Union européenne ? Pour en finir avec des politiques…

Other (9)
  1. Pour une révolution fiscale : Un impôt sur le revenu pour le XXIe siècle

    book · 2011

    La fiscalité française est asphyxiée par sa complexité, son manque de transparence et l'accumulation de privilèges pour une minorité de contribuables ultra-riches. Mais on en reste trop souvent, en la matière, à des énoncés aussi vagues…

  2. Capital et idéologie

    book · 2019

  3. Une brève histoire de l'égalité

    book · 2021

    "En présentant l'évolution en longue durée des inégalités entre classes sociales dans les sociétés humaines, Thomas Piketty propose une perspective nouvelle sur l'histoire de l'égalité. Il s'appuie sur une conviction forte forgée au fil…

  4. Une histoire du conflit politique : Élections et inégalités sociales en France, 1789-2022

    book · 2023

    « Qui vote pour qui et pourquoi ? Comment la structure sociale des électorats des différents courants politiques en France a-t-elle évolué de 1789 à 2022 ? En s'appuyant sur un travail inédit de numérisation des données électorales et…

Frequently asked questions about Thomas Piketty

Who is Thomas Piketty and what does he study?

Thomas Piketty is an economist and professor at EHESS and the Paris School of Economics. His research focuses on long-run inequality in income and wealth, taxation, redistribution, and political conflict.

Source: parisschoolofeconomics.eu (opens in a new tab)

Where was Thomas Piketty born and educated?

He was born in Clichy, France, on May 7, 1971. He studied mathematics at the École Normale Supérieure and earned a PhD in economics through EHESS and the London School of Economics.

Source: parisschoolofeconomics.eu (opens in a new tab)

Who influenced Thomas Piketty’s economic thinking?

Anthony Atkinson was a major influence: he mentored Piketty and collaborated with him on measuring trends in top incomes. Piketty’s approach also emphasizes long-run historical research using tax records and other administrative data.

Sources: thebritishacademy.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)eeassoc.org (opens in a new tab)

What awards has Thomas Piketty received?

Among his major recognitions are the European Economic Association’s 2013 Yrjö Jahnsson Award and the British Academy Medal in 2014, awarded for his work on inequality and for Capital in the 21st Century, respectively.

Sources: eeassoc.org (opens in a new tab)thebritishacademy.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)

What is Thomas Piketty’s legacy in economics and public debate?

His historical research helped make income and wealth inequality central topics in academic and policy discussions. He also helped establish the Paris School of Economics and co-directs the World Inequality Lab and World Inequality Database.

Sources: eeassoc.org (opens in a new tab)parisschoolofeconomics.eu (opens in a new tab)parisschoolofeconomics.eu (opens in a new tab)