Anne Robert Jaques Turgot and His Relevance to the French Revolution :: essays research papers fc

IntroductionAnne Robert Jaques Turgot, baron l Aulne, was born in Paris on May 10, 1727 to a noble cut family of Normandy. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, who had equipped the state with numerous universal officials, Turgot would achieve public renown as Intendent of Limoges and later as Controller General of all France. Although Turgot ended his public career in unfortunate circumstances, being dismissed by Louis 16 for ineffectiveness, his political theories became a major influence in the re of importing age of the Old Regime. The depth of Turgots economic thought was non acknowledge at the time because it largely went against what the ruling aristocracy wanted to hear. His clairvoyance is much more than fully noted in light of the culture two centuries. Furthermore, Turgot was one of the Kings last controller-generals before the French Revolution ended the monarchy. When his political and economic ideals are considered against this backdrop their magnifi cence as well as their contradictory nature become apparent. Turgots main contribution to economic theory is his Reflections on the Formation and Distribution of Riches. aside from this short but highly systematic account of the nature of economic development, Turgots other relevant writings are sparse and far from cohesive. Since this theme will consider his economics with regard to his political thought, only Turgots theories on the nature of government influence, cede trade, and taxes will be examined. Furthermore, an exposition of Turgots theory on administration will be provided. In gaining an understanding of Turgots political and economic thought a tidy example of the problems that manifested themselves in the revolution is provided. Turgot was the model of an enlightened, reform-minded administrator and this whitethorn be glimpsed in the liberality of his economic ideas. However, while he surely advised reforms in administration, they were simply intended so that the Ki ng could more effectively centralize political power. Laissez-Faire and Free Trade     As a young man Turgot was very close to Claude Marie Vincent, the Marquis de Gournay. Vincent was not only a friend but also Turgots mentor in economics and administration. It is in tribute to Vincent that after his death Turgot developed his ideas on laissez-faire government in a paper called, the "Elegy to Gournay" (1759). within this paper Turgot condemns the foolishness of mercantilist regulation of industry while expounding the benefits of free domestic and foreign trade following from the presence of free exchange.     In a detailed analysis of the market place process, Turgot writes that self-interest is the prime public mover in the market process and that in a free market the individual interest must always coincide with the general interest.