The Economic Grand Tour of the Counts Mniszech
Referat im Panel The Wealth of Republics, Monarchies and Nations after the Seven Years' War
Radek SZYMANSKI's paper will discuss the Grand Tour that the Mniszechs took with their tutor Bertrand. From 1762 to 1766, the counts travelled throughout Switzerland and Europe. Under Bertrand's guidance, they composed detailed comparative empirical analyses of the different economic models they encountered, in order to develop a framework for reforming Poland's stagnant economy. As Poland struggled to preserve its independence on the eve of the Partitions (1772-1795), the Mniszechs returned home to lead projects for serf emancipation and economic modernization in the new Commission of National Education.