Originally delivered in the form of lectures at Glasgow Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations Books I-III laid the foundations of economic theory in general & 'classical' economics in particular & this Penguin Classics edition is edited with an introduction & notes by Andrew Skinner The publication of The Wealth of Nations in 1776 coincided with America's Declaration of Independence & with this landmark treatise on political economy Adam Smith paved the way for modern capitalism arguing that a truly free market
- fired by competition yet guided as if by an 'invisible hand' to ensure justice & equality
- was the engine of a fair & productive society Books I
- III of The Wealth of Nations examine the 'division of labour' as the key to economic growth by ensuring the interdependence of individuals within society They also cover the origins of money & the importance of wages profit rent & stocks; but the real sophistication of his analysis derives from the fact that it encompasses a combination of ethics philosophy & history to create a vast panorama of society This edition contains an analytical introduction offering an in-depth discussion of Smith as an economist & social scientist as well as a preface further reading & explanatory notes Adam Smith (1723-90) was born in Glasgow & educated at Glasgow & Oxford Two years after his return to Scotland Smith moved to Edinburgh where he delivered lectures on Rhetoric In 1751 Smith was appointed Professor of Logic at Glasgow but was translated to chair of Moral Philosophy in 1752 The Theory of Moral Sentiments was published in 1759 & The Wealth of Nations in 1776 the same year as the Declaration of Independence If you enjoyed The Wealth of Nations you might like Karl Marx's Capital also available in Penguin Classics