More than 150 participants were present at the International Center of Conferences in Cotonou for the conference on the deficit in interpersonal trust and under-development in Benin. The conference was organised by the Institute for Empirical Reserach in Political Economy (IERPE), a training and reserach center, located in the premises of the National school of applied economics and management (Eneam) in Cotonou. The objectif of the conference was to share Professor Léonard Wantchékon's research results on the theme. Professor Wantchékon is a professor of eocnomics and politics at New York University and founding director of IERPE. Mr. Jérôme Carlos, journalist and historian, also intervened and spoke about the role and place of the spirit in personal development.