A.-R.-J. Turgot and the Construction of an Economic Agent called Entrepreneur

The entrepreneurial function as just one factor of production is actually being the point of a depth discussion in entrepreneurship research. It could be the cause of some confusion which impeders theoretical developments and it also makes difficult the effectiveness of pro-entrepreneurial programs. The aim of this article is to analyse the origin of this factor of production. For this purpose, we look back to the 18th century in order to analyze Turgot’s works (1727-1781) by means of a new conceptual framework that distinguishes between different productive agents. A series of analytical problems are exposed when the entrepreneurship is linked to a separate economic agent.Entrepreneurship, History of economic thought, Turgot, methodology.

The French Tradition. An alternative theoretical framework

This paper deals with the French economic thought throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A series of distinctive concepts were developed to come to a clear understanding of the economic problems which the French authors were interested in. J.A. Schumpeter called these economists 'the French tradition'. The arguments presented in this paper aim at illustrating the process of construction of this framework of theoretical concepts which can be regarded as an unsuccessful alternative to the British classical economics. However, this fruitful view of the economy has left a legacy of important contributions to economic theory..Classical and Preclassical, Economic Methodology, Entrepreneurship, Production and Organisations.

The Rothschild House business network in Spain as an example of entrepreneurial decision-taking and management structure.

In the period between 1835 and 1931 the Rothschild House established one of the most complex and influential business networks in Spanish economic history. This network controlled a wide range of activities, including financial services for the Spanish Government and the Bank of Spain, as well as the management of industrial, mining and railway firms. Instances of these firms are Rio Tinto Co., Société Minière et Metallurgique Peñarroya, MZA railway company and Deutsch & Cie, which was the main oil refining firm in Spain at the end of the 19th century.Spain 1835-1931, Rothschild, networks, Weisweiller, Bauer, foreign investments in Spain, railways, mining and refining companies, international raw material market, Public Finances, entrepreneurial function, agency problems, rent-seeking.