Response to the Paradoxes of Malestroit

Jean Bodin (1529-96) is chiefly known for his highly influential theory of the modern nation state, Six livres de la republique. However, his shorter treatise, Responce aux Paradoxes de Monsieur de Malestroit, addressed the particular problems of economic and financial policy, and in doing so he broke new ground. For its time, it was a remarkable piece of economic and political analysis. This is a new and complete translation of Bodin's treatise with notes, introduction and bibliography. Based on the first edition of 1568, it incorporates the considerable additions and amendments which Bodin introduced into the second edition of 1578. These additions include a substantial section from the Six livres de la republique in which Bodin argues a case against debasement of the coinage and in favour of sound money. The volume thus gives a complete picture of Bodin's political economy and the stages of its development. It will be of value not only to students of history and political economy but also to professional scholars to whom the text might not otherwise be readily available.