Alberto de' Stefani (6 October 1879 – 15 January 1969) was an Italian politician and economist. Coming from a background in liberalism to Benito Mussolini's Italian fascism, De Stefani was in charge of Italian economics from 1922 to 1925. His time in charge was characterized by laissez-faire ideals.
Minister of treasury De Stefani was appointed by Mussolini as Italy's minister of treasury in December 1922 when Vincenzo Tangorra suddenly died. He was a liberal economist and a former stalwart leader in the Centre PartyHoward M. Sachar, The Assassination of Europe, 1918–1942: A Political History, Toronto: Canada, University of Toronto Press, 2015, p. 48 who favoured policies such as free-trade, tax cuts without too much government interference, and privatisation of businesses such as the communications industry.Nicholas Farrell, Mussolini: A New Life, Phoenix, 2004, p. 185 He also undertook a thorough reform of the taxation system in Italy, which was adjudged a success at the time, although it has been noted that the reforms he enacted had been laid out by his predecessor Filippo Meda but not enacted.Douglas J. Forsyth, The Crisis of Liberal Italy, Cambridge University Press, 2002, p. 75
De Stefani took advantage of the dictatorial powers afforded to Mussolini's regime to enact these reforms, which had previously been blocked by parliament,Forsyth, The Crisis of Liberal Italy, p. 272. but in exchange he was among the acolytes who continued to serve Mussolini despite being aware of his responsibilities in the Matteotti crime.Sul delitto Matteotti, Biblion, Milan, 2024, , p. 11.
The economy prospered under de Stefani's direction, as part of a Europe-wide growth. Both wages and the cost of living fell under his direction. He accomplished his goal of a balanced budget for the financial year 1924–25.Vera Zamagni, The Economic History of Italy, 1860–1990, p. 244 By mid-1925, the economy was heading towards crisis and Mussolini dismissed de Stefani, replacing him with Giuseppe Volpi, a corporatist.Farrell, Mussolini, p. 186
Later political career Although removed from his position as minister de Stefani remained a member of the Grand Council of Fascism until the collapse of Mussolini's regime.Farrell, Mussolini, p. 391 From this position, de Stefani often criticised some of the actions of Mussolini's government. He was socially conservative and in 1928 launched an attack on what he felt was the "abundantly liberal" legislation being passed on marriage, arguing that those who chose not to procreate should be denied the same legal rights as parents.David G. Horn, Social Bodies: Science, Reproduction, and Italian Modernity, Princeton University Press, 1994, p. 91 He would later become associated with a tendency that included fellow movement veterans Emilio De Bono, Italo Balbo, and Luigi Federzoni that was highly critical of the introduction of Nazi Germany-influenced racial laws into Italy.Nicola Caracciolo, Florette Rechnitz Koffler, Richard Koffler, Uncertain Refuge: Italy and the Jews During the Holocaust, University of Illinois Press, 1995, p. 144
Academic career Away from politics, de Stefani served as a lecturer in economics at the Vicenza Institute of Technology.Jude Wanniski, The Way the World Works, Regnery Gateway, 1998, p. 134 He later was appointed a professor at the Sapienza University of Rome.Paul B. Trescott, Jingji Xue: The History of the Introduction of Western Economic Ideas into China, 1850–1950, Chinese University Press, 2007, p. 96
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