La diffusione della scienza economica come strumento di propaganda liberale: «L'Economista» (1874-1881) (Spreading political economy as a means to Liberal propaganda: «L'Economista» (1874-1881))

In Florence «L’Economista», journal founded in 1874 by the Tuscan liberals and inspired by Francesco Ferrara, was explicitly aimed at opposing the diffusion of interventionism and protectionism. The journal was part of a complex strategy derived from the French Société d’Économie Politique, intended to win the Italian public opinion to the liberal political course of Cavour. Political economy had, in this sense, to become popular. The article will analyse the peculiar characteristics of the Tuscan journal in respect to other European «Economists», but also the continuous influence of French liberals on its theoretical content. In the end, though, the political failing of Tuscan liberals will persuade the same Italian economists who’d contributed to «L’Economista» to dedicate their efforts to theoretical advancements instead of populist propaganda.