Economists and War - Università di Pisa

Università degli Studi di Pisa
Italian Association for the History of Economic Thought
XIII Conference – Call for Papers
11-13 December 2014
University of Pisa
"Economists and War"
War and economic power have interwoven in the thought of scholars since the beginnings of
economic science. Whilst the theme of war as a legitimate means for the accumulation of wealth
was widespread in the economic literature between the sixteenth and the eighteenth century,
from the mid-1800s onwards (Melon, Smith, Ricardo) there emerged a ‘pacifist’ conception of
economic development which maintained that commerce, as the sole generator of wealth, could
only develop in a context of peace. Analysis then gradually shifted to another level: the task of the
economist was to define the means best suited to supporting the war effort (public debt, taxes,
etc.), seeking to reduce its distortionary impact on the economy to the minimum possible. During
the nineteenth century, studies of Marxian inspiration induced economic theory to turn its
attention to acts of war viewed as events no longer extraneous to the economic sphere but, at
least partially, related to its internal dynamics.
The First World War, of which this year marks the first centenary, represents a profound caesura
with the total subordination of the productive system to war needs. Economic theory grew
increasingly concerned with matters to do with war. From Keynes to Rathenau, from Pantaleoni to
Brentano, warfare was an almost inexhaustible stimulus for economists working in the most
disparate fields, from monetary theory, through the organization of production, to the role of the
state. This tendency strengthened with the Second World War, when economists actively
participated in the war effort as advisors and planners. The war also directly stimulated theoretical
reflection by opening new directions for research which would not have developed in its absence
(games theory, for instance).
The AISPE invites historians of economic thought, economic historians, economists, and interested
scholars to submit proposals for papers and/or sessions on the topics listed below or on others
connected with the theme of the conference:
a) Economists and the First World War (on the occasion of its centenary)
b) War in the service of economic power: from mercantilism to the historical school
c) Imperialism
d) How to pay for war? Economists and the problem of war financing
e) Pacifism and antimilitarism in economic thought
f) Military Keynesianism: does war generate growth?
g) War as planning and economists as experts
h) Who must produce and how? The theory and practice of war production
Università degli Studi di Pisa
Other sessions
As in the AISPE’s tradition, it is possible to submit proposals for papers and sessions on original
topics and research projects in the history of economic thought.
Official languages
Italian, English
Calendar
30 September 2014. Deadline for the submission of abstracts
15 October 2014. Acceptance of abstracts
30 November 2014. Deadline for the submission of papers
11-13 December. 13th AISPE Conference
Scientific committee
Massimo Augello (Università di Pisa)
Pier Francesco Asso (Università di Palermo)
Fabrizio Bientinesi (Università di Pisa)
Giuseppe Conti (Università di Pisa)
Nicola Giocoli (Università di Pisa)
Marco E. Guidi (Università di Pisa)
Riccardo Faucci (Università di Pisa)
Luca Michelini (Università di Pisa)
Rosario Patalano (Università di Napoli “Federico II”)
Giovanni Pavanelli (Università di Torino)
Gianfranco Tusset (Università di Padova)
Organizing committee
c/o Università di Pisa: Fabrizio Bientinesi, Daniela Giaconi, Letizia Pagliai
The abstracts (max. 500 words) and session proposals (max. 1000 words) must be sent by 30
September 2014 to the AISPE Secretary, Gianfranco Tusset, by e-mail: [email protected]
Information concerning the conference is published on the website: http://aispe.econ.unito.it/