Theoretical Approaches to a Comparison of Economic Systems from a Historical Perspective

Abstract

Accounts showing that it is not only political rule that is subject to a process of historical transformation, but that economic forms also change, can be found as far back as Greek in mythology. There are allusions made in Greek philosophy — in Dicaearchus2 and Aristotle3, for instance — to a doctrine according to which the economy develops in stages. Ever since the Renaissance, if not earlier, the Western world has also been aware that cultural epochs change. The 19th century, in par- ticular, was convinced that economic and cultural evolution were the manifestation of a general upward trend which also embraced mores. Those who had this awareness of progress sensed that it was new and capable of altering the “character of cultural movement”: “We will go from acting withoutawareness, 10 being aware of our actions”4.