The economic writings of Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel (1752–1799): from the Enlightenment reforms to the Neapolitan Revolution

Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel was one of the protagonists of the Enlightenment in the Kingdom of Naples and the subsequent revolution that led to the proclamation of the Neapolitan Republic in 1799. Although she has been the subject of studies in various academic fields (Italian literature, history of political thought, gender studies, etc.), her economic ideas have never been subjected to a systematic study. This paper aims to fill this gap by illustrating her adherence to the principles of Antonio Genovesi’s Neapolitan school of economics and her commitment to carrying out important socio-economic reforms.