The Wealth of Nations

About “The Wealth of Nations”

Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776, is recognized as a landmark in human thought and the first scientific argument for the principles of political economy. It marks the starting point for all later economic theory. Smith's ideas on capital accumulation, growth, and long-term economic change remain influential in modern economics. This reprint of Edwin Cannan's 1904 edition includes Cannan's introduction, notes, and index, as well as a new preface by economist George J. Stigler. Stigler's preface highlights the continued relevance of Smith's ideas.