Preface

This book is devoted to Spanish economist Gerónimo de Uztáriz and his work on economics as a whole, especially the Theórica y práctica de comercio, y de marina—The Theory and Practice of Commerce and Maritime Affairs. This lengthy and eminent treatise was first published in Madrid, possibly between 1724 and 1725, and the years 2024 and 2025 therefore mark the first edition’s tercentenary.

Uztáriz and the Origins of the “Science of Commerce” in Europe

Uztáriz published his renowned Theórica y práctica de comercio y de marina in Madrid between 1724 and 1725. in the context of the reshaping of international trade and politics brought about by the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, the Theórica was above all a proposal to guide the economic policy of Philip V, Spain’s first Bourbon monarch, with the aim of setting the country on a path of economic progress similar to that of its much-envied neighbours. The fact that 2024 is the third c...

Taxes and Tariffs in the Fiscal Debate in Spain at the Time of Uztáriz’s Theórica (1724–1757)

This chapter aims to define the outlines of the long shadow cast by the Theórica over the three decades in question. It is divided into four sections. The first analyses Uztáriz’s core proposal for taxation, the second deals with tariffs and the customs system, and the third examines the controversial reception of both, particularly the former, among political economists and reformers of the day. The study concludes with some brief final remarks.

L’autobiografia in Francia nel Novecento