Uztáriz’s Theórica and Strategies for Spain’s Economic Development (1740–1795)

Jesús Astigarraga (), Javier Usoz () and Juan Zabalza ()
Additional contact information
Jesús Astigarraga: University of Zaragoza
Javier Usoz: University of Zaragoza
Juan Zabalza: University of Alicante

Chapter Chapter 14 in Gerónimo de Uztáriz and his Economic Work, 2025, pp 321-341 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract The Theórica’s commercial and industrial goal was hegemonic in Spain during the first half of the eighteenth century, in tune with prevailing ideas in the rest of Europe. During this time the book marked ways of thinking about how the structural problem faced by Spain due to its “lack of trade” could be solved, and from 1740 onwards it became a key text, thanks to the two re-editions in 1742 and in 1757. The work was especially influential in the three areas of taxation, trade and development strategies. However, after around 1760 its influence waned due to the prevalence of doctrines in favour of prioritising agriculture. In spite of this, its proposals for taxation, support for the role of trade, which was partially open to free trade initiatives, and criticism of companies with state privileges meant that the work retained its relevance in this predominantly agrarian context. Its pro-manufacturing stance, which was largely detached from Ancien Regime rigidity and privileges, also survived among major authors and in specific fields. This chapter therefore underlines the argument that there was not just one interpretation of the Theórica but many, and that they were wide-ranging and even contradictory.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:pshchp:978-3-031-75857-7_14

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.palgrave.com/9783031758577

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-75857-7_14

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().