active 1613 Antonio Serra

Little is known for certain about his life, but Antonio Serra was from Cosenza in the Kingdom of Naples and was active in the early 17th century. He is remembered as an Italian philosopher and economist in the mercantilist tradition, and is often noted for writing at a very early stage in the history of economic thought.

Serra is best known for his 1613 treatise, Breve trattato delle cause che possono far abbondare li regni d’oro, e argento, dove non sono miniere, written while he was imprisoned in Naples. In that work, he examined how a state without precious-metal mines could still become prosperous through industry, trade, and a healthy balance of exchange.

Because so few biographical details survive, his reputation rests mainly on that single work. Even so, it has given him a lasting place in intellectual history as a sharp and original observer of how economies grow.