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The Wealth of Nations


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Being called "the father of economics" is not without reason. Adam Smith demonstrated the essential principles in economics in his all-time classic "The Wealth of Nations" -- a book that changes the history of economic theory development. Read this book and you'll see the wisdom of this great old thinker, and you'll discover that economics is much more than just "supply and demand". At the practical level, ask youself questions like "what is the real meaning of money?" and find answers in the book.

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Recent Forum Posts on The Wealth of Nations

Excellent site

It gives me a great deal to think about and ruminate over. I will be coming to this and related sites quite often in the future in order review. My question presently is the phrase "fascism is capitalism on steroids". Smith's book "Wealth of Nations" refutes such a premise but it still seems to be a favorite of professors.

Posted By Jeff at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Wealth of Nations || 0 Replies

Betraying Adam Smith: Corporate Libertarians and Runaway Capitalism

I am searching for Smith's comments on the drive of owners of capital to interfere with the operationn of free markets, in order to maximize profits.
That information would be included in the essay following:

Betraying Adam Smith: Corporate Libertarians and Runaway Capitalism

The Liberal/Libertarian nexus is a mess, politically and conceptually, right now. I have seen the term "anarcho-Libertarian"
used to describe the extreme forms of libertarianism which have been funded and used so successfully by the Corporatist
oligarchy to discredit government protection of free markets from predatory corporatism.

Liberalism can be anti collectivist, pro market and pro pluralist, reaffirming the Constitutional system of checks and
balances envisioned by the founders without adopting a policy stance that renders us incapable of dealing with the drive of
corporatist oligarchs to destroy markets.

Libertarians, on the other hand, are largely rendered impotent in the face of private actions to distort and prevent the
efficient action of markets by their near "religious" objection to government action.

In her article "Enron and the Myths of Runaway Capitalism" Marjorie Kelly, publisher of Business Ethics, describes some of
current problems of "invisible hand" theory. George Soros touches on it in his Essay "The Capitalist Threat". Of course
Adam Smith, in the "Wealth of Nations" addressed the same problems, though they were not quite as central to the
development of political economy at the time.

url's in order of link appearance
http://world.std.com/~mhuben/faq.html
http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/corprule/assault.htm
http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/corprule/failure.htm
http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/corprule/betrayal.htm
http://www.salon.com/jan97/state970120.html
http://www.thecriticalvoice.com/runaway_capitalism.html

Posted By Unregistered at Sun 27 Jul 2003, 12:00 AM in The Wealth of Nations || 7 Replies

Smith Book V

I have bought the edition of Wealth of Nations published by Everyman's Library. For their convenience they have left out book V. The editor informs the public only at the end of the preface and not on the cover ("abridged edition"). This is very bad. It is very helpful that You provide access to book V here. Thank You.

Posted By Unregistered at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Wealth of Nations || 0 Replies

My term paper

This book has proved to be the greatest source of information on the evolution of the capitalism. I understand, It's the greatest help for students, specially one who are interested in doctoral programes in economics. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of people, who are maintaing on-line-literature website. Nodoubt, your work is helping many students to a great extend.

Regards,

Saqib A Niaz

Posted By Saqib at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Wealth of Nations || 0 Replies

poli sci

I was very pleased to find your site, having just returned from the library only to find my classmates had beaten me to the 3 copies of Smith's works available. I am, as I write, using it as a source for my term paper on capitalism the ideology. You guys provided me with an invaluable service and I only wish more such influential sources were available in full, online. Thx =]

Posted By Unregistered at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Wealth of Nations || 1 Reply

No Subject

Thanks for having this online - very convenient should I decide to reference it in a future essay or presentation!

Posted By Unregistered at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:03 PM in The Wealth of Nations || 1 Reply

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