Ostalo
WAYS AND MEANS
Ksenofont
Sažetak
Xenophon founds his plan of economic renewal and development of Athens on the recognition of basic interests of the three principal classes of Athenian population, namely citizens, strangers and slaves. The predominant position of the citizens’ class could be upheld only by representation of citizens in the state and by state monopoly with regard to enterprising strangers. In order to give a boost to internal and external trade and fiscal transactions, strangers also had to be guaranteed safety. Thus Xenophon advances an improvement of the strangers’ status, the enactment of special protection of their rights (board for the protection of strangers), and the awarding of special commendations to prominent strangers. Faced with the problem of the citizens’ impoverishment, Xenophon suggests the introduction of tax and the establishment of a special financial fund, which would provide for daily sustenance wages. He also suggests the expansion of the fund into a state-governed joint stock company, which would collect free assets, invest in various forms of capital objects, and the state would lease them to domestic and foreign entrepreneurs and wealthy people. Furthermore, Xenophon proposes that the “capital fund” be used for financing construction of houses and hotels, port- and other facilities for merchants and visitors, building of state-owned merchant ships for rent to private shipowners, and the purchase of slaves, which would also be rented to private entrepreneurs. Special attention is dedicated to the possibilities of improving and expanding the silver-mines in Laurion, which could ensure great income to the state. According to Xenophon, a prerequisite for the realisation of his plan is preservation of peace, for in peacetime large resources can be saved which would otherwise be swallowed by war, risks are reduced, and trust increased. In this way Athens would contribute to the preservation of peace in Greece and enhance its own security. He particularly insists on a close connection between economic development and peace preservation, which is the true foundation of a state’s power.
Ključne riječi
economy; development; security; power; Athens
Hrčak ID:
41522
URI
Datum izdavanja:
9.10.2009.
Posjeta: 1.543 *