The Legacy of the French Liberal School on the Economic Thought of Antonio Flores

Abstract

This article examines the influence of the French Liberal School (FLS) on the economic thought of Antonio Flores, a prominent 19th-century Ecuadorian statesman (diplomat, congressman, and president), son of Ecuador’s first president, educated in Paris and Lima. It explores how the ideas of economists such as Jean-Baptiste Say and Charles Dunoyer shaped his views on free markets, property, and the role of the state. Traditionally, the FLS has been seen as an extension of the British Classical School; however, this study argues that it exhibits distinct characteristics that resonated in Flores intellectual context. Through a comparative analysis of key FLS texts and Flores works, similarities and divergences in themes such as economic freedom and social utility are explored.

The methodological approach combines traditional close reading with a qualitative analysis of recurring concepts, revealing that Flores adapted French liberal principles to the historical and economic particularities of his environment. The findings suggest that the FLS legacy in Flores was not mere imitation but a creative reinterpretation that enriched the economic discourse of his time. This work contributes to a reassessment of transnational influences in 19th-century economic thought, emphasizing the relevance of the FLS as an autonomous intellectual tradition.