The Wealth of Nations
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Summary
Editor's review
The value of this book goes far beyond a single academic classic. Smith's profound insights, made more than two centuries ago, into human nature, markets, and social cooperation offer intellectual tools that transcend time for understanding today's globalized economic phenomena and for thinking about the boundary between government and the market. His discussion of the division of labor almost precisely foresees the trajectory of modern industry and services; his defense of free trade appears all the more prescient at a time when protectionist sentiment is rising. When reading, I suggest not fixating on specific figures or historical cases but focusing on the logic and framework of his analysis. The book's appeal lies in this: it does not offer fixed answers but grants you a meta-method for thinking about economic problems.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in economics, political philosophy, or intellectual history who wish to trace ideas to their roots
- Students or practitioners in business and economics who want to solidify their theoretical foundations
- Thinkers concerned with the patterns of social operation who wish to understand the relationship among markets, wealth, and the role of government
- Lovers of classic reading who enjoy direct dialogue with great minds
Not a good fit for
- Pragmatists expecting immediately usable investment and financial techniques or business strategies
- Readers seeking light, casual reading who lack patience for theoretical analysis and historical exposition
Reading tips
- On a first reading, closely read Parts One and Two first to grasp core concepts such as the division of labor, money, value, and capital, then read the later sections on economic history and policy more broadly
- Take notes while reading and sketch the chain of Smith's argument; this matters more than memorizing specific conclusions
- Read alongside works on economic history or biographies of Adam Smith to better understand the era and intellectual context in which the book was written
About the publisher
Lixin Accounting Publishing House focuses on textbooks and academic works in accounting, finance and economics, and auditing, while also drawing on its catalogue to expand into general reading in foreign literature, world classics, management, inspirational growth and personal finance. Representative titles include classic translations such as The Wealth of Nations and Meditations, the Quti Yan series on management communication and personal finance, and selected short stories by Dostoevsky. Its authors include Jiang Xiaomo, Yantao, Li Huiquan, Ye Zhou and Qin Renjie, as well as foreign classics writers such as Adam Smith, Marcus Aurelius and Dostoevsky. Public information is limited; its publishing character is reflected in a diverse lineup that combines professional finance and economics publishing with general reading.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 原版前言
- 第一篇 论增进劳动生产力的因素，及分配劳动生产物给各个阶层的自然顺序
- 第一章 分工
- 第二章 分工的起源
- 第三章 市场大小会限制分工
- 第四章 货币的起源和效用
- 第五章 商品的劳动价格与货币价格
- 第六章 商品的价格组成
- 第七章 商品的自然价格与市场价格
- 第八章 工资
- 第九章 资本与利润
- 第十章 劳动与资本对工资与利润的影响
- 第一节 由职业性质造成的不平衡
- 第二节 由政策造成的不平衡
- 第十一章 地租
- 第一节 总能提供地租的土地生产物
- 第二节 有条件提供地租的土地生产物
- 第三节 上述两种土地生产物相对价值的变动
- 本章总结
- 第二篇 论资本的流通、累积和作用
- 绪论
- 第一章 资财的划分
- 第二章 维持国民资本的货币
- 第三章 资本积累与生产和非生产性劳动的关系
- 第四章 贷出取息的资财
- 第五章 资本的用途
- 第三篇 论不同国家资本发展的不同
- 第一章 财富的自然积蓄
- 第二章 欧洲农业在罗马帝国崩溃后曾受到抑制
- 第三章 罗马帝国崩溃后都市的发展
- 第四章 城市工商业会促进农村的发展
- 第四篇 论政治经济学体系
- 绪论
- 第一章 重商主义的内在机制
- 第二章 限制进口本国也能生产的外国货物
- 第三章 限制进口那些使我国陷入贸易逆差的外国货物
- 第一节 此种限制不符合重商主义
- 第二节 此种限制也不符合其他原则
- 第四章 退税
- 第五章 奖励金
- 附录
- 第六章 通商条约
- 第七章 殖民地
- 第一节 新殖民地建立的目的
- 第二节 新殖民地繁荣的原因
- 第三节 两大发现对欧洲的意义
- 第八章 关于重商主义的结论
- 第九章 重农主义
- 第五篇 论国家的收入
- 第一章 君主或国家的费用
- 第一节 国防经费
- 第二节 司法经费
- 第三节 公共工程和机关的费用
- 第四节 维持君主的尊严也需要费用
- 本章总结
- 第二章 公共收入的来源
- 第一节 君主或国家的非常规收入
- 第二节 赋税
- 第三章 公债
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About the author
Adam Smith (1723–1790) was a Scottish economist and moral philosopher, a representative figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, and is regarded as the "father of modern economics." He wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and The Wealth of Nations (1776). The former explores moral judgment through human nature and sympathy, while the latter systematically sets out ideas such as the division of labour, free markets, and the "invisible hand," exerting a profound influence on later economic and political thought. The library holds twenty-one of his works, mostly Chinese translations of The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments, as well as collected volumes with other classics, covering categories such as finance, politics, social culture, and world classics. They are suitable for readers who wish to understand the foundations of classical economics and moral philosophy.
Li Huiquan is an author about whom limited public information is available, with 14 titles published under this name in the collection. His selections span several fields: on the one hand, he compiles and edits foreign literary readers, such as short story collections by Maupassant, Chekhov, and O. Henry; on the other, he works on biography and documentary writing, including Napoleon and a selected edition of The Second World War memoirs. Works on economics and management also make up a considerable share, such as The Wealth of Nations, The Complete Economics of Schumpeter, and A Brief History of the World Economy, along with inspirational and personal-growth readers aimed at young audiences. Overall, his works tend to be compilations, translations, and popular introductions for general readers, turning classics and specialized knowledge into accessible texts and exerting some influence in popularizing foreign literature and economic writing.
