Evolution and development, categories of Genovesi’s economics

Genovesi represents the highest point of two long-lasting streams of thought. One of them criticises the hostility towards the increase in consumption, of Aristotelian origin. The other, which had starts with Petty, distinguishes more and less productive labours with an empirical approach. In both cases Genovesi provides an evolutionary view of economic development which is based on two processes: the increase in consumption and comforts, on the one hand, and the increase of intellectual labour, on the other. Genovesi’s original and decisive contribution on these themes have been always neglected.