What was the law of Leptines’ really about? Reflections on Athenian public economy and legislation in the fourth century BCE

Mirko Canevaro ()
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Mirko Canevaro: The University of Edinburgh

Constitutional Political Economy, 2018, vol. 29, issue 4, No 5, 440-464

Abstract: Abstract The article investigates a case study of fiscal policy formation in fourth century BCE Athens: that of the law of Leptines. The law was enacted but later challenged through a procedure of constitutional judicial review (graphe nomon me epitedeion theinai). Through a detailed analysis of the arguments at the trial, the article reconstructs the financial issues that the law was meant to solve, regarding the liturgical system and its wider implications. Recent scholarship has highlighted the complexity and sophistication of Athenian public finances and economic policy. The article finds a window into the debates from which the relevant institutions originated.

Keywords: Public finances; Athens; Trade; Taxation; Ancient economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F13 H2 H3 K4 N43 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s10602-018-9260-7

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