Vilfredo Pareto: An Intellectual Biography Volume I: From Science to Liberty (1848–1891) (Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought)

This three volume series of intellectual biography considers the life, work and impact on economic, social and political theory of the Italian economist, sociologist and political scientist Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923). This volume covers the period starting from his childhood up to his early political activism, amateur journalism and initial scholarly contributions. His pre-Lausanne years are often neglected by students of Pareto, but form the intellectual and biographical background to his later contributions to economic, social and political theory. Fiorenzo Mornati is Associate Professor in History of Economic Thought at the University of Turin, Italy. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 7 List of Tables 8 1: Introduction 9 2: An Outline of the Life of Raffaele Pareto 22 2.1 His Youth in Italy: From the Ligustica Academy to the Corps of Engineers to Giovine Italia 23 2.2 His 20-Year Exile in France: Work in Hydraulic Engineering 24 2.3 His Return to Genoa: Technical Journalism and School-Teaching 27 2.4 His Ministerial Career in the Newly Constituted Kingdom of Italy 28 2.5 The Influence of Raffaele on Vilfredo 30 Bibliography 35 3: Vilfredo’s School and University Education 38 3.1 School Studies 39 3.2 University Studies 41 3.3 The Courses in Calculus and Rational Mechanics 43 3.4 Pareto at the End of His University Studies 46 Bibliography 53 4: Twenty Years in Industry Management 58 4.1 Experiences with the Società delle Strade Ferrate Romane 59 4.2 Experiences with the Società per l’Industria del Ferro 60 4.2.1 Initial Assessments of the Corporate Crisis 63 4.2.2 The Partial Renovation of the Ironworks 64 4.2.3 Proposal for an Aggressive Commercial Strategy 66 4.2.4 The Workforce 66 4.3 Experiences with the Società delle Ferriere Italiane 70 4.3.1 The San Giovanni Ironworks in the 1880s 78 4.3.2 The Problems of the Corneto Tarquinia Ironworks 85 4.3.3 The Difficulties of Managing Mammiano 87 4.3.4 Problems in Deciding the Ideal Location: The Options of Torre Annunziata (Naples) and Milan-Rogoredo 90 4.3.5 The Purchase of Rails 93 4.3.6 Collusive Agreements 96 4.3.7 An Unprofitable Venture on the Island of Elba 101 4.3.8 The Railway Tariffs 103 4.3.9 Pareto’s Reaction to the Protectionist Turn of 1887 106 Bibliography 128 5: A Multifaceted Liberalism and a Positive Methodology 133 5.1 Political Liberalism 134 5.2 Religious Liberalism 140 5.3 Moral Liberalism: The Role of Women and Duty 141 5.4 Economic Liberalism 142 5.5 Pareto’s Early Methodological Sources: John Stuart Mill and Gustave de Molinari 146 5.6 On Scientific Method 150 5.7 Scientific Debate 151 5.8 The Nature and Aims of Science in General and of the Science of Economics in Particular 152 Bibliography 161 6: Political Activism 166 6.1 Electoral Experiences 167 6.2 Municipal Councillor in San Giovanni Valdarno 176 6.3 Anti-Colonialism and Anti-militarism 178 6.4 Pareto’s Approach in the Orbit of the Radical Party 181 Bibliography 188 7: Amateur Publications 191 7.1 The Question of the Railways 192 7.2 State Management of Enterprises 196 7.3 An Economic Analysis of Possible Measures for the Benefit of the Workforce 197 7.4 Taxation and Public Expenditure 201 7.5 Birth Control 205 7.6 Against Customs Protectionism 206 7.7 Against the Artificial Exit from the Fiat Money 212 7.8 Early Reflections on Socialism 214 7.9 Early Reflections on Economic Theory 218 7.10 Early Reflections on Sociology 219 7.11 Early Reflections on Political Science 221 Bibliography 237 Epilogue 244 Index 247 Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Introduction (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 1-13 An Outline of the Life of Raffaele Pareto (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 15-30 Vilfredo’s School and University Education (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 31-50 Twenty Years in Industry Management (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 51-125 A Multifaceted Liberalism and a Positive Methodology (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 127-159 Political Activism (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 161-185 Amateur Publications (Fiorenzo Mornati)....Pages 187-239 Back Matter ....Pages 241-252