Introduction to Antonio Serra and the Economics of Good Government

Little is known of Antonio Serra except that he wrote his extraordinary 1613 Short Treatise on the Causes that Make Kingdoms Abound in Gold and Silver even in the Absence of Mines in a Neapolitan jail, and that he died there soon afterwards. However, the influence of this work represents a watershed not only in the discipline of economics but in the history of social science and intellectual history more generally. In this book, some of the world’s leading economists and experts on Serra explore the enduring appeal of his Short Treatise. The authors analyse the work in its historical, economic, cultural and intellectual contexts, exploring the finer details of his theories regarding economic development and international financial interactions, as well as his indebtedness to earlier Renaissance traditions. The book also uncovers new material relating to Serra’s life and provides in-depth interpretation of his key insights, influences and political economy. This book highlights the parallels between issues discussed by Serra and modern political and scholarly consciousness, and illustrates the importance and influences of historical debate in modern economic thinking.