The Wealth of NationsFirst published in 1776, The Wealth of Nations is considered the seminal work on political economy. Its author, Adam Smith, formulated the basic but groundbreaking concept that the natural human inclination toward self-interest results in prosperity. His passionate arguments in favor of free trade, rather than stringent government regulations, posit that individuals are entitled to set and regulate prices for their own goods and services. Smith's masterpiece of economic analysis was regarded as revolutionary upon its initial publication, and it continues to exert an active influence on modern politicians and economists. Rich in historical background and acute observations of the eighteenth-century, the book is also an insightful work of political philosophy. Witty and highly readable, it abounds in prescient theories that form the basis of today's capitalist system. |
Contents
CHAPTER | vii |
Introduction and Plan of the Work | xlv |
Of the Causes of Improvement in the productive Powers | 3 |
Of the Principle which gives Occasion to | 13 |
CHAPTER III | 17 |
Of the Origin and Use of Money | 22 |
Of the real and nominal Price of Commodities or of their | 30 |
Of the component Parts of the Price of Commodities | 47 |
Of Systems of political Economy | 397 |
Of Restraints upon the Importation from foreign Countries | 420 |
Of the extraordinary Restraints upon the Importation | 440 |
Of the Unreasonableness of those extraordinary Restraints | 455 |
Of Bounties | 472 |
Digression concerning the Corn Trade and Corn Laws | 490 |
Of Treaties of Commerce | 511 |
Causes of the Prosperity of New Colonies | 531 |
Of the natural and market Price of Commodities | 55 |
Of the Wages of Labour | 64 |
Of the Profits of Stock | 87 |
Of Wages and Profit in the different Employments | 99 |
Part I | 100 |
Inequalities occasioned by the Policy of Europe | 118 |
Of the Rent of Land | 144 |
Of the Produce of Land which sometimes does | 161 |
Part III | 174 |
Article I | 207 |
Values of Gold and Silver | 211 |
Of the Nature Accumulation and Employment of Stock | 259 |
Of the Accumulation of Capital or of productive | 314 |
Of Stock lent at Interest | 333 |
Of the different Progress of Opulence in different Nations | 356 |
Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns after | 373 |
Improvement of the Country | 384 |
Of the Advantages which Europe has derived from | 557 |
Conclusion of the Mercantile System | 607 |
Of the Agricultural Systems or of those Systems of Political | 627 |
Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth | 653 |
Of the Expence of Justice | 669 |
Of the Public Works and Institutions for facilitating | 682 |
Of the Expence of the Institutions for | 716 |
Of the Expence of the Institutions for | 740 |
Of the Expence of supporting the Dignity of the Sovereign | 766 |
Of Taxes | 777 |
Taxes upon Profit or upon the Revenue arising | 798 |
Taxes upon the Wages of Labour | 815 |
Of public Debts | 859 |
Appendix on the Herring Bounty | 901 |
| 907 | |
| 971 | |
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Common terms and phrases
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