The Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is the great pioneering study of economic growth and performance. When first published in 1776, the factory-based Industrial Revolution was only just getting underway. However, there had been steadily rising production and incomes in Britain, the North American colonies, Holland and other countries since at least the late 17th century. Smith uses basic theory, observation and documentary sources to analyze the nature and causes of economic...
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Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is the great pioneering study of economic growth and performance. When first published in 1776, the factory-based Industrial Revolution was only just getting underway. However, there had been steadily rising production and incomes in Britain, the North American colonies, Holland and other countries since at least the late 17th century. Smith uses basic theory, observation and documentary sources to analyze the nature and causes of economic advancement in general. The book is lengthy and wide-ranging. It examines the contributions to production of labour, land and capital. It explains the economic importance of large buoyant markets and industrial specialization. It also shows that national wealth does not depend on economic factors alone. For example, the favourableness or otherwise of the political-legal environment for industry and commerce is everywhere a major influence on national prosperity. This is a moderately abridged current language version of the book ¿ essentially translating the work into modern English to improve its readability and understandability. The translation is substantive but retains literalness and original word order and grammar as far as possible. CONTENTS: Editorial Foreword Author¿s Introduction BOOK 1: INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND INCOMES Chapter 1: Industrial Specialization Chapter 2: The Origins Of Industrial Specialization Chapter 3: The Extent Of The Market Limits Specialization Chapter 4: The Origins And Use Of Money Chapter 5: The Real Economic And Nominal Monetary Prices Of Goods Chapter 6: Supply Prices, Production Costs And Incomes Chapter 7: The Natural And Market Prices Of Products Chapter 8: The Wages Of Labour Chapter 9: The Profits Of Capital Chapter 10: Wages And Profits In Different Trades Chapter 11: The Rent Of Land BOOK 2: CAPITAL ¿ ITS NATURE, ACCUMULATION AND USES Chapter 1: Different Types Of Capital Chapter 2: Monetary Capital Chapter 3: The Accumulation Of Capital Chapter 4: Capital Lent At Interest Chapter 5: The Different Uses Of Capital BOOK 3: NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCES Chapter 1: The Natural Process Of Economic Growth Chapter 2: The Discouragement Of Agriculture In Europe After The Fall Of The Roman Empire Chapter 3: Urban Growth And Manufacturing After The Fall Of The Roman Empire Chapter 4: The Contribution Of Urban Industry And Commerce To Rural Economies BOOK 4: POLITICAL-ECONOMIC THEORIES AND POLICIES Chapter 1: The Mercantilist Political Economic Model Chapter 2: Restrictions On Importing Goods Capable Of Domestic Production Chapter 3: Restrictions On Imports To Correct So-called Disadvantageous Trade Balances Chapter 4: Tax Refunds On Exports Chapter 5: Export Subsidies Chapter 6: Treaties Of Commerce Chapter 7: Colonies Chapter 8: The Mercantilist System ¿ Conclusions Chapter 9: The Agricultural Political Economic Model ¿ The Notion Of Land As The Great Source Of National Wealth BOOK 5: GOVERNMENT FINANCES ¿ PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, TAXATION AND BORROWING Chapter 1: Government Expenditure Chapter 2: The Sources Of General Public Revenues Chapter 3: Public Debts