Last modified: 2017-05-30
Abstract
Say’s opinions have aroused great interest and contrasting opinions, from the debate about the theory of value and the role of the entrepreneur, with the sharp criticism of Marx, to the reappraisal of his identification of the importance of risk and asymmetrical information in entrepreneurial activities. His liberal opinions have been examined thoroughly, and a multi-faceted Jean-Baptiste Say has emerged, concerned with the fate of unskilled labourers and, generally speaking, with “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”, in the wake of Beccaria and Bentham.
This paper deals with some issues on Say’s methodological and social positions.
In the first paragraph I discuss Say’s position on equality and representative government, in relation to political economy and the role of public power. In the second paragraph the position of Say on value, distribution and market mechanism is briefly recalled, whereas, in the third one, attention is devoted to the entrepreneurial behaviour, the débouchés problem and some final remarks are provided.