Bidspirit auction | [HISTORY] - Tax Theory Pioneer:

[HISTORY] - Tax Theory Pioneer: Broggia’s Treatise, 1743 - BROGGIA Carlo Antonio (1698 - 1767) - BROGGIA, Carlo Antonio. Trattato de' tributi, delle monete, e del governo politico della sanità. Opera di Stato, e di Commercio, di Polizia, e di Finanza: molto, alla Felicità de' Popoli, alla Robustezza degli Stati, ed alla Gloria e Possanza maggiore de' Principi, conferente e necessaria. Naples: Presso Pietro Palombo, 1743. Tall, thick 8vo, contemporary ‘carta rustica’ pasteboard, paper with some browning or foxing here and there for its own quality, but a genuine copy untrimmed, with deckle edges. First edition of the author's chief work, credited by Schumpeter as one of the first attempts at a pure theory of taxation, and as ”a digest of all that was best, not only in the public-finance literature of the eighteenth century but also in most of that of the nineteenth” (Schumpeter, p. 205). Little is known of the Italian merchant Carlo Broggia (1698-1767). Aiming to promote prosperity through business and commerce, the author advises taxation of inherited wealth at a greater rate than wealth accruing through commerce. Though both direct and indirect taxation are recommended, the former should not be levied on earned income. He also argued for simplified customs procedures and low import duties, the right to export produce, and the dangers of monopoly. Einaudi 709; Goldsmiths 7984; Kress B4730. Joseph Alois Schumpeter, History of Econ. Analysis, 1954. (1)