The first chapter qualifies the admission process to these Grandes Écoles for cohorts born between 1891 and 1995. Families from ancient aristocratic lineage are continually more likely to be admitted, and Parisian-born individuals are increasingly over-represented in the GE. Descendants of GE graduates are also considerably advantaged in the admission process, over several generations, even more so in the college where their ancestors studied. Moreover, I show that the level of intergenerational reproduction is remarkably stable for all cohorts born since 1916.

The second chapter examines the entry of the Grande École graduates born between 1931 and 1975 on the specific labor market for elite occupations, namely politicians with national-level mandates and board members of French firms. I first confirm that the Grandes Écoles are crucial in the training of such elites. More importantly, I demonstrate the presence of dynasties, as children of the political and business elites have higher chances than their peer graduates to embrace similar careers. Political dynasties are particularly sizeable, although progressively declining for cohorts born after World War 2. I also show that these dynasties shape the composition of the French elite, as dynastical board members tend to be less educated than first-generation directors, and as members of the elite manage to propel their offspring much younger to key business and political positions.

Finally, the third chapter explores the interactions between the political and business elites in the attribution, by politicians to business leaders, of the Légion d’honneur, the most prominent state award in France. Awards constitute news shocks and allow to conduct an event study in the days following their announcement. With my coauthors Renaud Coulomb and Marc Sangnier, we reveal a positive stock market reaction for the firms of the awardees. Graduation of politicians and businesspersons in a same Grande École cohort serves as a signal of political connections. Thus, it appears that only newly disclosed information on connections is priced by financial markets.

This dissertation thereby documents the pervasive and long-lasting influence of the Grandes Écoles on the structuring of the French elites. First, the admission process is characterized by a substantial intergenerational reproduction, which perpetuates over generations. Second, even among graduates, careers remain determined by social origins. Finally, alumni networks that root early in the life course have a durable influence on social outcomes, for instance through higher chances to receive a prestigious state award from a college peer.

Keywords: Grandes Écoles, French elites, intergenerational mobility, social reproduction, political and business elites, Légion d’honneur.