Pantaleoni's characterization of the Italian working class was conspicuous in its timing: war had brought "undeserved" wealth to the Italian workers thanks to higher nominal wages and government price controls on foodstuff s and other social services. In Pantaleoni's telling these same workers, rather than saving, had indulged themselves to a point of moral and economic degradation (1922, 58): Th e working classes basically don't save and spend everything in plea- sures [godimenti], with the consequence of a remarkable decay of their moral qualities.

Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, loc. 1142