Italian economists framed public employment as destroying the work ethic

Evidence

On the other hand, a socialist economy was portrayed as giving the working classes a “free ride” to work less and consume more. For Italian economists it was understood that, once hired by the state, employees degenerated in their behavior, becoming the antithesis of the virtuous homo economicus. Public employees became immoral “loafers” [fannulloni] because they lost the sound economic incentive of the unfettered market (Ricci 1926, 13). “Th e employee is brought to consider the fi xed stipend as an acquired right, a guaranteed pension [pensione di garanzia] in exchange for which there is no obligation to give anything,” Einaudi argued. He scolded, “the duty to work arises when overtime begins, since it’s uncertain and is paid according to the work done” (Einaudi 1959– 65, vol. 5, 233). — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1241

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the modern neoliberal framing of ‘dependency culture’ — resonates with later chapters on UK/US welfare narratives and with recent critiques of the moralizing of public-sector work. — connects to: Neoliberal economics revived Fascist-era contempt for public employees — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1242; Italian austerity economists blamed wartime gains for working-class moral decline — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1142; Economic theory reinforced the Italian austerity economists’ classist worldview — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1162 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Fascist economist Pantaleoni blamed rising wages for moral decline #exemplifies (0.95) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 198
• Italian austerity economists blamed wartime gains for working-class moral decline #expands (0.90) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1142
• Economic theory reinforced the Italian austerity economists’ classist worldview #expands (0.80) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1162