Between the economics, politics and public opinion: The birth of reviews on political economy in Spain (1737-‍1805)

Authors

  • Jesús Astigarraga Universidad de Zaragoza
  • Javier Usoz Universidad de Zaragoza
  • Juan Zabalza Universidad de Zaragoza

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18042/cepc/rep.190.09

Abstract

The European Enlightenment was the origin of the political influence of public opinion. The writings of the fledging economic science were part of this movement. These works took different and modern formats and served as vehicles for the international circulation of economic ideas and socio-political propaganda. So far, this is the case of the still unexplored reviews on political economy, a new genre in the novel journals, whether generalist, cultural or strictly economic. This article analyses the overall reviews on political economy published in the Spanish printing press during the long 18th century. It is no wonder that the leading journals of that period included such reviews following the growing relevance that Political Economy gradually acquired as a science of analysis and reform. The research of these new sources suggests a general interpretation of this phenomenon, linking it to the economic and political reform characteristic of the late Enlightenment. This reform indeed will be the breeding ground for the transition to the liberal state.

Published

2020-11-23

Issue

Section

ARTICLES