We suggest, in this paper, the investigation of Adam Smith and Francis Ysidro Edgeworth's utilitarianism conceptions. Both conceptions were used in order to develop Economics as science. However, they presented the limitations of the economic theory, which boundaries recommended.

Fiscal issues were central in the Portuguese enlightened reform at the end of the Eighteenth century, especially after revolutions in Western Europe and America that were triggered by tax conflicts. The writings of the Portuguese statesman D. Rodrigo de Souza Coutinho (1755-1812) show a great...

This paper deals with the debate involving Bastiat and Proudhon over the legitimacy of the capital income. The first section presents an overview of the French political scenario at the time of the controversy. After that, the economic views of both authors are sketched in light of the liberal...

This work intends to present the main heterodox questions brought up by James Steuart´s thought. Steuart´s works on political economy have the sign of duality. This sign condemned this work to ostracism during this life time and labeled him as mercanlist in the history of economic thought....

This paper presents Adam Smith’s view on taxation and public expenditure, by means of an almost literal reading of the Wealth of Nations famous passages on the "duties of the sovereign" and on the "maxims of taxation". Contrarily to the commonest usage of these passages, we will show that...