Founding Choices: American Economic Policy in the 1790s (National Bureau of Economic Research Conference Report)

The political decisions made by the founding fathers were crucial to the success of the early republic. But the economic decisions they made were just as pivotal, ensuring the general welfare and common defense of the United States for decades to come. __Founding Choices__ explores these economic choices and their profound influence on American life, westward expansion, and influence abroad. Among the topics covered are finance, trade, and monetary and banking policy, with a focus on the factors guiding those policies and their end result. This book redresses the relative neglect of the economic achievements of the founders. It will be essential reading for historians and economists alike. The Political Decisions Made By The Founding Fathers Were Crucial To The Success Of The Early Republic. But The Economic Decisions They Made Were Just As Pivotal, Ensuring The General Welfare And Common Defense Of The United States For Decades To Come. This Book Explores These Economic Choices And Their Profound Influence On American Life, Westward Expansion, And Influence Abroad. Among The Topics Covered Are Finance, Trade, And Monetary And Banking Policy, With A Focus On The Factors Guiding Those Policies And Their End Result. The Significance Of The Founding Choices: Editor's Introduction / Douglas A. Irwin And Richard Sylla -- Politics. The Constitutional Choices Of 1787 And Their Consequences / Sonia Mittal, Jack N. Rakove, And Barry R. Weingast -- Policy. Financial Foundations: Public Credit, The National Bank, And Securities Markets / Richard Sylla -- Revenue Or Reciprocity? Founding Feuds Over Early U.s. Trade Policy / Douglas A. Irwin -- Monetary Policy And The Dollar / Peter L. Rousseau -- Federal And State Commercial Banking Policy In The Federalist Era And Beyond / Howard Bodenhorn -- The Other Foundings: Federalism And The Constitutional Structure Of American Government / John Joseph Wallis -- Business Organization And The Factors Of Production. Rise Of The Corporation Nation / Robert E. Wright -- U.s. Land Policy: Founding Choices And Outcomes, 1781-1802 / Farley Grubb -- Free Labor And Slave Labor / Stanley L. Engerman And Robert A. Margo -- Looking Backward: Founding Choices In Innovation And Intellectual Property Protection / B. Zorina Khan. Edited By Douglas A. Irwin And Richard Sylla. Papers Of The National Bureau Of Economic Research Conference Held At Dartmouth College On May 8-9, 2009. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. From the publisher. The political decisions made by the founding fathers were crucial to the success of the early republic. But the economic decisions they made were just as pivotal, ensuring the general welfare and common defense of the United States for decades to come. Founding Choices explores these economic choices and their profound influence on American life, westward expansion, and influence abroad. Among the topics covered are finance, trade, and monetary and banking policy, with a focus on the factors guiding those policies and their end result. This book redresses the relative neglect of the economic achievements of the founders. It will be essential reading for historians and economists alike.