As much as I hate to agree with the professor... but Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_economic_thought) says that the history of economic sciences stretches back to 500 BC. So at least there were at least proto-economists as far back as before the time of Jebus.
It's a little bit like calling Alchemists scientists. In any case, I would like to hear which 16th century mind argued for inflation, especially as currency was specie.
Economists now are still in the Alchemist stage. Its mostly just pseudo-science.
I can't agree more. It's still the best branch of knowledge we have about the subject. People here fail to realise that all the economic considerations of Stolfi are strictly mainstream and found in any textbook.