The Wealth of Nations: With a Foreword by George Osborne, MP and an Introduction by Jonathan B. Wright, University of Richmond

The Wealth of Nations is a treasured classic of political economy. First published in March of 1776, Adam Smith wrote the book to influence a special audience - the British Parliament - and its arguments in the early spring of that year pressed for peace and cooperation with Britain's colonies rather than war. Smith's message was that economic exploitation, through the monopoly trade of empire, stifled wealth-creation in both home and foreign lands. Moreover, protectionism preserved the status quo, and privileged a few elites at the expense of long run growth. Smith wrote, ''It is the industry which is carried on for the benefit of the rich and the powerful that is principally encouraged by our mercantile system. That which is carried on for the benefit of the poor and the indigent is too often either neglected or oppressed.'' Overview: But, as Andrew Skinner reveals in his introduction to this edition, the real sophistication of The Wealth of Nations lies less in individual areas of economic analysis than in its overall picture of a vast analytical system-a capitalist economy-in which all the parts can be seen simultaneously interacting with each other. In addition, Smith's view of society was not merely an economic one. The Wealth of Nations is far from being an apologia for unregulated business enterprise: Smith was at pains to point out that economic advance can have undesirable social consequences, and that labor which is economically unproductive can be beneficial to society at large The Treasured Classic Of Political Economy, First Published In 1776. This Edition Includes An Introduction Which Aims To Place The Work In A Business Context. Foreword / George Osborne -- Introduction / [johathan B. Wight] -- Notable Quotes From The Wealth Of Nations -- Notes On The Text -- The Wealth Of Nations. Adam Smith ; With A Foreword By George Osborne And An Introduction By Jonathan B. Wight. A classic of political economy that influences a special audience - the British Parliament - and its arguments in the early spring of that year pressed for peace and cooperation with Britain's colonies rather than war. 'Originally published in 1776'--T.p. verso.