Pierre Le Pesant, sieur de Boisguilbert

Pierre Le Pesant, sieur de Boisguilbert ( born February 17, 1646 Rouen, † October 10, 1714 in Rouen, also Boisguillebert ) was a French economist of the period of mercantilism and a sharp critic of the mercantilist doctrine Jean -Baptiste Colbert and today as a precursor of the French Physiocrats and the French liberalism.

Life

He came from a family of the old officials nobility ( noblesse de robe ), studied law in Paris, then as writer (1675 treatise on Mary Stuart ) and translator ( 1674 Dio Cassius and Herodian ) worked, was a judge on the Court (Parliament) of Rouen, bought in 1690 the influential post of " lieutenant général de civile au Baillage de Rouen ", 1699, in addition the office of "Lieutenant de Police " was so city chief judge, chief police officer and mayor. In 1677 he married a wealthy heiress, shortly before his death, he inherited the office bought his son. Boisguilbert Colbert made ​​directly responsible for the profound economic crisis, stuck in France during his lifetime. His key work Le DÃ © tail de la France from 1697 was forbidden in 1707 by the French Government, as it would threaten "public order ". Boisguilbert was banned for six months in the Auvergne.

Work

The Colbert 's state interventionism is contrary Boisguilbert one of the first plea for a free economy. He backed his argument here with a macroeconomic reasoning about the creation of wealth and income. For him to know the economic actors best what they need to produce as and for whom, and do not need a State requiring them to do so. Progress is made just for Boisguilbert solely on the initiative of individuals and actors who, motivated by their own interests, will build a "natural economic order ". The role of the state should then be confined to the education of the people and the protection of the market, otherwise laissez -faire et laisser be -passer, the best strategy to ensure a strong, healthy economy.

These views represent a break is with the standards applicable in France until then mercantilist doctrine that wealth does not further after Boisguilbert, but actually suppresses or destroys. With the help and under the protection of Vauban Boisguilbert published his revolutionary ideas from 1695 to 1712.

Generate wealth

In contrast to Mercantilism, equates wealth with the possession of gold, Boisguilbert distinguishes between "real wealth" and " montärem wealth". The modern in his day race for gold seems to him to be crazy ( la folie pure ): According Boisguilbert creates true economic power only thanks to the agricultural and industrial sectors that produce the only goods that actually serve the needs of the people.

Social classes

Boisguilbert distinguishes three social classes: peasants, merchants and Improduktive. He takes clear party for the two former; The latter, which he counts landowners, nobles and others of his opinion, "useless " people groups, he criticized that they " do nothing all day and yet all the pleasures to enjoy ," while others " from morning to work until the evening, and hardly have the wherewithal, the one they often also takes away " (Dissertation de la nature of richesses ).

Economic cycle

As Quesnay tries Boisguilbert on a model to explain the economy, involving the various stakeholders and their role in the cycle with. Origin and end point of the economic cycle is the real estate for Boisguilbert. Income on the land (rent, tithes, property taxes ) go from the working classes to the improduktiven populations, so that at the farmers food, and the industrialists and traders buy products.

Improduktive: obtaining their income from their land.

Agriculture: obtaining their income from the sale of goods. The agricultural variations in agricultural production have an impact on the entire economic system. The industry is counted by Boisguilbert to this sector.

Dealer: Your task is to circulate the wealth. They receive their income from the sale of products they have previously purchased from the industrialists and agriculture.

Writings

• Le détail de la France, sous le présent règne. - 1697
• Dissertation de la nature of richesses, de l' argent et tribute, où l' on découvre la fausse idée qui règne dans le monde à l' eGard de ces trois articles. - 1704
• Factum de France. - 1707
• Traité de la nature, culture, commerce et interet of the grains. - 1707
• Causes de la rareté de l' argent. - 1707