The Economics of Bruni Machiavelli and Guichardini

The Italian Renaissance is sometimes seen as a kind of crucible for the birth of capitalism. The economic policies recommended in these utopias are striking, but not stunningly innovative since they echo the proto-communist ideas of Thomas Moore and before him Plato. In Campanella's city, money does exist, but only to trade with foreigners, and the people are said to be rich because they want nothing, and poor because they possess nothing.