Evoluzione dei sistemi di controllo del Monte di Pietà di Ferrara nel XVII secolo

The evolution of control mechanisms within the Monte di Pietà of Ferrara in the XVII century. This paper aims to analyse, from both historical and accounting perspectives, the control mechanisms that existed within the Monte di Pietà of Ferrara in the XVII century, both accounting based and not. In particular, we investigated the years after the two bankruptcy cases which occurred in 1598 and 1646, in order to verify if those serious and unexpected events affected the monitoring practices of the institution. The study aims to answer the following questions: - which control mechanisms, both accounting-based and not, were implemented in order to monitor the activity of the Monte di Pietà of Ferrara in the XVII century? - Did those mechanisms undergo some changes after the bankruptcies that affected the institution during the investigated period? - Were those control mechanisms effective and efficient, given the administrative practices in effect at that time? The methodology adopted consists of empirical observation of a case study. In particular, the purpose of the research was fulfilled applying a qualitative approach, based on the critical analysis of the primary sources housed in the archive belonging to the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara. The study reveals that the control mechanisms of the Monte di Pietà began to evolve only after the 1646-bankruptcy case. The tools and practices which were implemented were effective, as they prevented the chance of serious embezzlements which could compromise the economic balance of the institution. On the other hand, this effectiveness was combined with cumbersome organisational procedures and excessively bureaucratized accounting practices, which represent the negative outcomes of the implementation of new control mechanisms within the Monte di Pietà of Ferrara.