The Foundations of Public Finance

The book presents the most important articles and papers tracing the development of public finance from the earliest tolls and customs duties levied on goods and land to more complex tax systems up to 1950. This publication is a companion to and complements the work "Modern Public Finance" (editor A.B. Atkinson), which covers the recent developments in public finance from 1950. The book (covers 41 articles, dating from 1662 to 1959) appears in the series "The International Library of Critical Writings in Economics" which is an essential reference source for students, researchers and lecturers in economics.