Abstract
Francesco Forte has made major contributions to many areas of economics with the result that his theoretical work and applications have opened new areas of inquiry. This paper connects Forte’s work with the work of Jürgen Backhaus on fiscal sociology. Positioned at the crossroads of economics and sociology, the answers to these questions helped fill the void which gave rise to the field of fiscal sociology. Fiscal sociology is primarily a study of taxation and fiscal policies which illuminates core issues in the sociology of contemporary capitalism. It includes the causes of poverty and inequality in rich countries and adds to our understanding the basis for the inequality between rich and poor countries. Our paper reviews several of Forte’s papers on Pareto’s fiscal sociology and the failure of European planning for less-developed regions. The paper highlights Forte’s contributions to economic theory focusing on Pareto’s sociological theory and the influence of the European Union on regional development.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
“Fiscal sociology as a separate field makes sense only once economics and sociology have parted ways, leaving a void in between” (Backhaus 2001, p. 6). Positioned at the crossroads of economics and sociology, the answers to these questions helped fill the void which gave rise to the field of fiscal sociology.
References
Backhaus, J, (2001), “Fiscal sociology: What for? farewell lecture”, Maastricht University.
Fedeli, S., & Forte, F. (2013a). The sociological theory of fiscal illusion and the Laffer curve. Reflections on an Italian case. In J. Backhaus (Ed.), Essentials of fiscal sociology. Series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 5 (pp. 95–113). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Fedeli, S., & Forte, F. (2013b). In search of the Laws of access and survival of the members of the Italian parliament in relation to their party affiliation (1946–2011). In J. Backhaus (Ed.), Essentials of fiscal sociology. Series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 5 (pp. 447–469). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Fedeli, S., & Forte, F. (2013c). The Pareto sociological theory of the elites and the Italian parliament (1861–1928). In J. Backhaus (Ed.), Essentials of fiscal sociology. Series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 5 (pp. 281–306). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Fedeli, S., & Forte, F. (2013d). A survival analysis of the circulation of the political elites governing Italy from 1861 to 1994. In J. Backhaus (Ed.), Essentials of fiscal sociology. Series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 5 (pp. 309–335). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Forte, F. (2007). On the sociology of Eurostat statistical ‘quasi auditing’ of the ‘general governments’ accounts for the Maastricht fiscal rules. In J. Backhaus (Ed.), Fiscal sociology. Public auditing. Series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 2. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Forte, F. and Silvestri, P. (2013). “Pareto’s sociological maximum of utility of the community and the theory of the elites.” In: J. Backhaus (ed.), Essentials of fiscal sociology. series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 5, Frankfurt: Peter Lang, pp. 231–265.
Forte, F., Magazzino, C., & Mantovani, M. (2013). On the failure of European planning for less developed regions – the case of Calabria. In J. Backhaus (Ed.), Essentials of fiscal sociology. Series Finanzsoziologie, vol. 5 (pp. 367–397). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Griziotti, B. (1908a). The effects of the pension conversion. Journal of economists, s. 2, XXXVIII, 1, pp. 353–384.
Griziotti, B. (1908b). Discussing on the pension conversion effects. The Economist, XXIV.
Griziotti, B. (1909a). The double sets on debts and income in Italy, ibid., XXXIX, 1, pp. 27–46.
Griziotti, B. (1909b). The value increases in industrial actions and the Italian tax system. Giorn Economists , 2, 45–84.XXXIX
Griziotti, B. (1910). The tax on increases in value in the capital and on income in the income (interest, wages and profits), ibid., XL, 1, pp. 625–658; 2, pp. 45–63, 169–183, 281–309, 401–430, 648–682).
Montemartini, G. (1899). La Teorica delle Produttivita Marginali. Pavia: Fratelli.
Pareto, V. (1898), 1966 Tables pour faciliter l’application de la méthode des moindres carrés. Pages 89–118 in Vilfredo Pareto, Statistique et économie mathématique. Oeuvres complètes, Vol. 8. Geneva: Droz.
Pareto, V. (1913). "Il massimo di utilità per una collettività in sociologia", Giornale degli Ecoomiste e Rivistadi Statistica.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Backhaus, U., Brady, G.L. Francesco Forte’s Contributions to Essentials of Fiscal Sociology . Int Adv Econ Res 23, 51–57 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-016-9624-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-016-9624-6