Competition in the Enlightenment economists
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Keywords

competencia
feudalismo
libertado económica
salarios
progreso técnico competition, feudalism, economic freedom, wages, technical progress

How to Cite

Perrotta, C. (2023). Competition in the Enlightenment economists. Cuadernos De Estudios Del Siglo XVIII, (33), 21–44. https://doi.org/10.17811/cesxviii.33.2023.21-44

Abstract

Competition was considered by Enlightenment authors as the major output of the new economy. It allowed the latter to overcome definitively feudal society, which was static and based on privileges and prepotency. It substituted it with a dynamic society and an impersonal process of exchange and distribution in which merits prevail. These authors stress that competition eliminates the inequalities due to monopolies and prohibition of selling land property; reduces prices and benefits the consum-er; encourages industry and efficiency; increases general welfare. For these authors competition means economic freedom, against the state and the privileges protected by the latter. However, En-lightenment economists believed (except Turgot) that competition leads towards high wages. They were not yet aware that technical progress, generated by competition, in the short run creates unem-ployment and lowers wages if it is not supported by public policies to increase employment and open new production fields.

https://doi.org/10.17811/cesxviii.33.2023.21-44
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