V. E. Sergio and a Sicilian Version of Mercantilism

Since the nineteenth century, a historiographic interpretation of Sergio's proposals has existed, which accuses him of being 'feudal' and not up to date with the new ideas circulating within European Economic thought. Even though the Genovesi model did inform Sergio's work, its political meaning was to some degree distorted by Sergio himself. Di Gregorio ? through his Lessons (the 3(rd) & 4(th) parts of which were unpublished) kept in the Biblioteca Zelantea (Acireale) ? aims at demonstrating not only how close Sergio was to neo-mercantalistic proposals but also that he had some reforming tendencies even before the time of Caracciolo. In the author's opinion, the main ideas of the neo-mercantilistic model are: a more complete distribution of the population, free internal trade, introduction of import duty, low-rate export duties, development of the manufacturing industry and, above all, free exportation of wheat.