Wealth of Nations / Adam Smith

Title: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations 

Author: Adam Smith

Subjects: Economics

The book offers one of the world's first collected descriptions of what builds nations' wealth, and is today a fundamental work in classical economics. By reflecting upon the economics at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the book touches upon such broad topics as the division of labour, productivity, and free markets.

Contents

INTRODUCTION AND PLAN OF THE WORK.

BOOK I. OF THE CAUSES OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE PRODUCTIVE POWERS OF LABOUR, AND OF THE ORDER ACCORDING TO WHICH ITS PRODUCE IS NATURALLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE DIFFERENT RANKS OF THE PEOPLE.

CHAPTER I. OF THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.

CHAPTER II. OF THE PRINCIPLE WHICH GIVES OCCASION TO THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.

CHAPTER III. THAT THE DIVISION OF LABOUR IS LIMITED BY THE EXTENT OF THE MARKET.

CHAPTER IV. OF THE ORIGIN AND USE OF MONEY.

CHAPTER V. OF THE REAL AND NOMINAL PRICE OF COMMODITIES, OR OF THEIR PRICE IN LABOUR, AND THEIR PRICE IN MONEY.

CHAPTER VI. OF THE COMPONENT PART OF THE PRICE OF COMMODITIES.

CHAPTER VII. OF THE NATURAL AND MARKET PRICE OF COMMODITIES.

CHAPTER VIII. OF THE WAGES OF LABOUR.

CHAPTER IX. OF THE PROFITS OF STOCK.

CHAPTER X. OF WAGES AND PROFIT IN THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENTS OF LABOUR AND STOCK.

CHAPTER XI. OF THE RENT OF LAND.

BOOK II. OF THE NATURE, ACCUMULATION, AND EMPLOYMENT OF STOCK.

CHAPTER I. OF THE DIVISION OF STOCK.

CHAPTER II. OF MONEY, CONSIDERED AS A PARTICULAR BRANCH OF THE GENERAL STOCK OF THE SOCIETY, OR OF THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

CHAPTER III. OF THE ACCUMULATION OF CAPITAL, OR OF PRODUCTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE LABOUR.

CHAPTER IV. OF STOCK LENT AT INTEREST.

CHAPTER V. OF THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENTS OF CAPITALS.

BOOK III. OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRESS OF OPULENCE IN DIFFERENT NATIONS

CHAPTER I. OF THE NATURAL PROGRESS OF OPULENCE.

CHAPTER II. OF THE DISCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE ANCIENT STATE OF EUROPE, AFTER THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

CHAPTER III. OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF CITIES AND TOWNS, AFTER THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

CHAPTER IV. HOW THE COMMERCE OF TOWNS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE COUNTRY.

BOOK IV. OF SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY.

CHAPTER I. OF THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COMMERCIAL OR MERCANTILE SYSTEM.

CHAPTER II. OF RESTRAINTS UPON IMPORTATION FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF SUCH GOODS AS CAN BE PRODUCED AT HOME.

CHAPTER III. OF THE EXTRAORDINARY RESTRAINTS UPON THE IMPORTATION OF GOODS OF ALMOST ALL KINDS, FROM THOSE COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THE BALANCE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DISADVANTAGEOUS.

CHAPTER IV. OF DRAWBACKS.

CHAPTER V. OF BOUNTIES.

CHAPTER VI. OF TREATIES OF COMMERCE.

CHAPTER VII. OF COLONIES.

CHAPTER VIII. CONCLUSION OF THE MERCANTILE SYSTEM.

CHAPTER IX. OF THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, OR OF THOSE SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY WHICH REPRESENT THE PRODUCE OF LAND, AS EITHER THE SOLE OR THE PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF THE REVENUE AND WEALTH OF EVERY COUNTRY.

BOOK V. OF THE REVENUE OF THE SOVEREIGN OR COMMONWEALTH

CHAPTER I. OF THE EXPENSES OF THE SOVEREIGN OR COMMONWEALTH.

CHAPTER II. OF THE SOURCES OF THE GENERAL OR PUBLIC REVENUE OF THE SOCIETY.

CHAPTER III. OF PUBLIC DEBTS.