Managing the Athenian State Finances

This chapter explains the basic logic behind the fiscal expansionary programs (of Keynesian inspiration—one might say, under a modern perspective) that were introduced by the Athenian politicians Eubulus and Lycurgus between 350–s320s BCE that proved very successful and led to the impressive recovery of the Athenian economy of the times, after the recession that followed the Social War of 357–355 BCE. It further explains how the Athenian public finances were determined, based on a sophisticated package of institutions, which, in the end, secured their success.