Abstract

Benedetto Croce (1866-1952) showed a genuine interest for economics during three different periods of his life. He participated to the debate on Marxian economics opened by Antonio Labriola (1895-1899); he exchanged letters with Vilfredo Pareto on the foundations of pure economics (1900-1901) and, last, but not least, he engaged in a controversy with Luigi Einaudi about philosophical and economic liberalism (1928-1941). The paper focuses on the relevance and modernity of Croce's positions, as well as on some shortcomings of his thought.