Eighteenth century economics : Turgot, Beccaria and Smith and their contemporaries

Peter Groenewegen is one of the world's foremost scholars of eighteenth century economics - the era that saw the effective 'mainstreaming' of the discipline in the work of Smith, Turgot and Quesnay. This collection of essays amounts to the definitive guide to eighteenth century economics and is a must for any economist's bookshelves. Eighteenth Century Economics represents four decades of Peter Groenewegen's research of that period. Presented in chronological order, the essays read not only as an authoritative summary of that period, but also as a guide to the evolution of Groenewegen's writings down the years. There can be no doubt that this book is truly indispensable to any serious economist and will prove a valuable resource for students of the history of economic thought. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of illustrations......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Prelude......Page 16 Chronological table of contents......Page 24 Turgot, Beccaria and Smith......Page 28 Thoughts on the emergence of economics as a science......Page 73 New light on the origins of modern economics......Page 101 Labour and the classical economists......Page 124 Boisguilbert and eighteenth-century economics......Page 136 The French connection: some case studies of French influences on British economics in the eighteenth century......Page 150 Employment and machinery: two classical debates on the effects of automation......Page 169 The notion of the subsistence wage in pre-Smithian classical political economy: some reflections inspired by the surplus approach WITH......Page 182 Sir James Steuart and Richard Cantillon......Page 205 Editing the classics in the Antipodes: with special reference to the problem of identifying anonymous authors......Page 218 Laissez-faire: reflections on the French foundations......Page 236 The physiocrats: the origins of scientific political economy and the single tax......Page 247 Quesnay's first publication in economics: the article 'Fermiers' for the Encyclopedie an introduction......Page 272 Du Pont de Nemours on the origins and progress of a new science......Page 288 Reflections on Pietro Verri's political economy......Page 295 A re-appraisal of Turgot's theory of value, exchange and price determination......Page 307 A re-interpretation of Turgot's theory of capital and interest......Page 324 Turgot: forerunner of neo-classical economics?......Page 339 Turgot's place in the history of economic thought: a bicentenary estimate......Page 356 Turgot and Adam Smith......Page 388 A new catalogue of Adam Smith's library......Page 404 Adam Smith and the division of labour: a bicentenaryestimate......Page 413 Productivity of labour, thrift and economic progress: Adam Smith's optimistic view of economic development......Page 430 Index......Page 438 Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of illustrations 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgements 14 Prelude 16 Chronological table of contents 24 Turgot, Beccaria and Smith 28 Thoughts on the emergence of economics as a science 73 New light on the origins of modern economics 101 Labour and the classical economists 124 Boisguilbert and eighteenth-century economics 136 The French connection: some case studies of French influences on British economics in the eighteenth century 150 Employment and machinery: two classical debates on the effects of automation 169 The notion of the subsistence wage in pre-Smithian classical political economy: some reflections inspired by the surplus approach WITH 182 Sir James Steuart and Richard Cantillon 205 Editing the classics in the Antipodes: with special reference to the problem of identifying anonymous authors 218 Laissez-faire: reflections on the French foundations 236 The physiocrats: the origins of scientific political economy and the single tax 247 Quesnay's first publication in economics: the article 'Fermiers' for the Encyclopedie an introduction 272 Du Pont de Nemours on the origins and progress of a new science 288 Reflections on Pietro Verri's political economy 295 A re-appraisal of Turgot's theory of value, exchange and price determination 307 A re-interpretation of Turgot's theory of capital and interest 324 Turgot: forerunner of neo-classical economics? 339 Turgot's place in the history of economic thought: a bicentenary estimate 356 Turgot and Adam Smith 388 A new catalogue of Adam Smith's library 404 Adam Smith and the division of labour: a bicentenaryestimate 413 Productivity of labour, thrift and economic progress: Adam Smith's optimistic view of economic development 430 Index 438 Economics 1. Turgot, Beccaria And Smith -- 2. Thoughts On The Emergence Of Economics As A Science -- 3. New Light On The Origins Of Modern Economics -- 4. Labour And The Classical Economists -- 5. Boisguilbert And Eighteenth-century Economics -- 6. The French Connection: Some Case Studies Of French Influences On British Economics In The Eighteenth Century -- 7. Employment And Machinery: Two Classical Debates On The Effects Of Automation -- 8. The Notion Of The Subsistence Wage In Pre-smithian Classical Political Economy: Some Reflections Inspired By The Surplus Approach / Tony Aspromourgos -- 9. Sir James Steuart And Richard Cantillon -- 10. Editing The Classics In The Antipodes: With Special Reference To The Problem Of Identifying Anonymous Authors. Peter Groenewegen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. It is well known and documented (Winch,1970; Schumpeter, 1959) that the third quarter of the eighteenth century marks perhaps the most important period in the history of economic thought, since it is at the end of this period that economics emerged as a separate and new science (cf. Shackle, 1967, p. 2.).