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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) INTRODUCTION - An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (Cannan ed.), vol. 1
INTRODUCTION - Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (Cannan ed.), vol. 1 [1776]Edition used:An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, edited with an Introduction, Notes, Marginal Summary and an Enlarged Index by Edwin Cannan (London: Methuen, 1904). Vol. 1.
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- Preface
- Editor’s Introduction
- Introduction and Plan of the Work
- Book I: Of the Causes of Improvement In the Productive Powers of Labour, and of the Order According to Which Its Produce Is Naturally Distributed Among the Different Ranks of the People.
- Chapter I: Of the Division of Labour 1
- Chapter II: Of the Principle Which Gives Occasion to the Division of Labour
- Chapter III: That the Division of Labour Is Limited By the Extent of the Market
- Chapter IV: Of the Origin and Use of Money
- Chapter V: Of the Real and Nominal Price of Commodities, Or of Their Price In Labour, and Their Price In Money
- Chapter VI: Of the Component Parts of the Price of Commodities
- Chapter VII: Of the Natural and Market Price of Commodities 1
- Chapter VIII: Of the Wages of Labour
- Chapter IX: Of the Profits of Stock
- Chapter X: Of Wages and Profit In the Different Employments of Labour and Stock 1
- Part I: Inequalities Arising From the Nature of the Employments Themselves 1
- Part II: Inequalities Occasioned By the Policy of Europe
- Chapter XI: Of the Rent of Land
- Part I: Of the Produce of Land Which Always Affords Rent
- Part II: Of the Produce of Land Which Sometimes Does, and Sometimes Does Not, Afford Rent
- Part III: Of the Variations In the Proportion Between the Respective Values of That Sort of Produce Which Always Affords Rent, and of That Which Sometimes Does and Sometimes Does Not Afford Rent
- Digression Concerning the Variations In the Value of Silver During the Course of the Four Last Centuries
- Book II: Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock
- Introduction
- Chapter I: Of the Division of Stock
- Chapter II: Of Money Considered As a Particular Branch of the General Stock of the Society, Or of the Expence of Maintaining the National Capital
- Chapter III: Of the Accumulation of Capital, Or of Productive and Unproductive Labour
- Chapter IV: Of Stock Lent At Interest
- Chapter V: Of the Different Employment of Capitals
- Book III: Of the Different Progress of Opulence In Different Nations
- Chapter I: Of the Natural Progress of Opulence
- Chapter II: Of the Discouragement of Agriculture In the Ancient State of Europe After the Fall of the Roman Empire
- Chapter III: Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, After the Fall of the Roman Empire
- Chapter IV: How the Commerce of the Towns Contributed to the Improvement of the Country
- Book IV: Of Systems of Political Œconomy
- Introduction
- Chapter I: Of the Principle of the Commercial Or Mercantile System
- Chapter II: Of Restraints Upon the Importation From Foreign Countries of Such Goods As Can Be Produced At Home
- Chapter III: Of the Extraordinary Restraints Upon the Importation of Goods of Almost All Kinds, From Those Countries With Which the Balance Is Supposed to Be Disadvantageous
- Part I: Of the Unreasonableness of Those Restraints Even Upon the Principles of the Commercial System 1
- Part II: Of the Unreasonableness of Those Extraordinary Restraints Upon Other Principles 2
INTRODUCTION
POLITICAL œconomy, considered as a branch of the science of aThe first object of political economy is to provide subsistence for the people statesman or legislator, proposes two distinct objects: first, to provide a plentiful revenue or subsistence for the people, or more properly to enable them to provide such a revenue or subsistence for themselves; and secondly, to supply the state or commonwealth with a revenue sufficient for the public services. It proposes to enrich both the people and the sovereign.
The different progress of opulence in different ages and nations,Two different systems proposed for this end will be explained. has given occasion to two different systems of political œconomy, with regard to enriching the people. The one may be called the system of commerce, the other that of agriculture. I shall endeavour to explain both as fully and distinctly as I can, and shall begin with the system of commerce. It is the modern system, and is best understood in our own country and in our own times.
[For other definitions of the purpose or nature of political economy see the index, s.v.]
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