Melchiorre Delfico (economist)

Melchiorre Delfico (1744 – 1835) was an Italian economist, writer, and magistrate. Born in Teramo, in the Kingdom of Naples, he is considered one of the most important figures of the Enlightenment in Southern Italy.

Delfico dedicated his life to the study and improvement of the economic and social conditions of his native region and the Kingdom. He advocated for reforms in agriculture, trade, and taxation, promoting ideas of free trade and criticizing feudal privileges and inefficient government practices.

He is renowned for his works on public finance, including his "Memorie sul debito pubblico del Regno di Napoli" (Memoirs on the Public Debt of the Kingdom of Naples), in which he analyzed the causes of the kingdom's financial problems and proposed solutions. He also wrote extensively on political economy and social issues.

Delfico held several important administrative and judicial positions, allowing him to put some of his ideas into practice. He was a member of various academies and societies, and his writings influenced economic thought and policy in Italy during his time. His intellectual contributions were rooted in a commitment to rationalism and the betterment of society through practical reform.