The beauty of the struggle. Economic associationism in Luigi Einaudi’s thought

The article examines Luigi Einaudi’s conception of economic associationism and its role in modern industrial societies. First, it explores Einaudi’s methodological integration of economic theory and history to analyse economic associations as voluntary, pluralistic forms of collective action. Second, by linking Einaudi’s views on economic associations to his broader theoretical framework of equilibrium, freedom, and progress, the study highlights his contributions to both economic analysis and social philosophy. Finally, the article contributes to clarifying Einaudi’s place in the history of economic thought, emphasising how economic associationism offers key insights into his divergence from neoclassical orthodoxy.