Series of Economics and Encyclopaedias: Traditional Economic Theory and New Paths

The chapter reviews the contribution of series of economics and encyclopaedias to the development of Italian economic thought in the interwar period, providing general information on the main series of economics (especially on Nuova collana di economisti stranieri e italiani) and major encyclopaedias (Enciclopedia italiana, Dizionario di politica, Enciclopedia bancaria). The following topics are treated: (i) Can a single specific line of fascist economic thought be identified, or on the contrary the case was that there were a few authors who attempted to elaborate a corporatist theory clearly distinct from traditional theory, and various economists who opted for a conciliation between corporatism and traditional theory? (ii) To what extent was Italian economic thought influenced by more radical attempts to construct a new economic theory or alternatively by the proponents of a less conflictual balance between the two approaches? and (iii) Can the works examined here be considered marked by regime propaganda or have they left a more lasting trace? © 2019, The Author(s).