In this interview excerpt, Michel Camdessus, Director of the Treasury in the French Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs from 1982 to 1984, Governor of the Banque de France from 1984 to 1987 and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1987 to 2000, describes his family background.

In this interview excerpt, Michel Camdessus, Director of the Treasury in the French Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs from 1982 to 1984, Governor of the Banque de France from 1984 to 1987 and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1987 to 2000, discusses his studies in political science, his intellectual mentors and the reasons he decided to pursue a career in the civil service.