The History, Nature and Economic Significance of an Exceptional Fiscal State for the Growth of the British Economy, 1453-1815

Today efficient states can be represented as sovereign authorities governing successful economies that provide high, stable and rising standards of welfare for their citizens. Such states emerged slowly and painfully over centuries of geopolitical rivalry and conflict among aristocracies for hegemonic monarchy until they came to rest upon firm fiscal and political foundations. 1 Over a very different period of history that unfolded for roughly four centuries after 1453, when English armies were finally expelled from all further imperialist ventures on the mainland of Europe, no European state recognized responsibility for economic growth with social welfare as anything other than contingent.[...]