Summary - TST 43
TRANSPORTES, SERVICIOS Y TELECOMUNICACIONES
Between Economy and Markets: Charles of Bourbon and his reforms
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[ Abstract ]
Carlos Sebastián de Borbón y Farnesio represented, during his
reign (1734-1759), the protagonist of an enlightened riformism,
in the Naples innovative framework of Antonio Genovesi,
Giambattista Vico, Ferdinando Galiani, Pietro Giannone, Antonio
Broggia and others. His action led to the construction of many
public works and he was able to elevate the city of Naples to
the great European capital, a key destination for travelers on
the Gran Tour. The work of Charles of Bourbon was very intense
also for legal and judicial reforms. However, the economic
sector was the one in which – thanks to the contribution of
Bernardo Tanucci – the most significant results were observed,
linking the Kingdom of Naples to the general movement of
European renewal.
Most of the Kingdom numerary was used in luxury expenses, in
“arrendamenti” (the parts of the public debt of the time), or it
was deposited in public banks. Private bankers, public
administrations, monasteries, churches, the great houses of the
nobility and commerce, lawyers and even the most modest people
opened accounts with them. The counters did not correspond any
interest to depositors, but, despite this, the deposit operation
was particularly common for the dual function of constituting a
useful means of money case for those who poured and, in
particular, to facilitate payments by the fedi (deposit
certificates) and polizze (checks). Furthermore, in times of
financial need, the city administration and the Royal Court made
requests for loans and abundantly used the deposits of public
banks. Whether and in which measures the Charles reforms have
achieved their aims, finally, it is still the subject of
analysis and discussion, although the overall extent of the
changes undertaken in a limited timeframe seems undeniable.