THE "CORTES DE CADIZ" AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECONOMIC GOOD ORDER (1810-1814)

This paper chronicles the attempted institutional change which took place in Spain in the period 1808-1814, exploiting the collapse of the absolute monarchy brought about by the conflict with the French Napoleonic army. The paper is structured in four sections: the first part describes the foundations of the new political order; the second part examines the transition from a "predatory" tax State to a "contractual" tax State; the third part examines the package of measures aimed at creating and consolidating new property rights and the liberalization of production activities. Finally, the reactions and resistance to organizational change are analysed.