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Antonio Serra: A Neglected Herald of the Acquisitive System

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  • Theodore A. Sumberg

Abstract

. The spirit of capitalism arose not from a change in religion, as Max Weber claims, but from a break in the philosophic tradition that was initiated by Machiavelli, whose economic consequences were spelled out by the Neapolitan Antonio Serra in a path breaking treatise of 1613. Serra called for an active government promoting manufacturing enterprises that would enjoy ever advancing technology and indefinite declines in unit costs. A newly‐structured market economy would guarantee an ever‐growing consumer basket in an acquisitive system centered in self advantage, national and individual, pursued in independence of traditional moral restraints on avarice. Writing in jail, Serra advances his new and anti‐scholastic ideas with great discretion for fear of persecution by political and ecclesiastical authorities who were, at the time, against innovation of all kinds.

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  • Theodore A. Sumberg, 1991. "Antonio Serra: A Neglected Herald of the Acquisitive System," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 365-373, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:50:y:1991:i:3:p:365-373
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.1991.tb02304.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Maksim Vlasov & Sergey N. Polbitsyn & Michael Olumekor & Hossam Haddad, 2023. "Exploring the Role of Socio-Cultural Factors on the Development of Human Capital in Multi-Ethnic Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Vishnu Padayachee, 2019. "Can progressive macroeconomic policy address growth and employment while reducing inequality in South Africa?," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 30(1), pages 3-21, March.

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