One of the great classics of economics, this influential work by the noted 18th-century philosopher and political economist was the first systematic formulation of classical English economics. Smith emphasizes that labor is the only source of wealth, and that its accumulation is the result of every individual's effort to improve his situation in life. Abridged republication of a standard edition.
On the Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau A milestone of political science, Rousseau's 1762 work argues that all government is fundamentally flawed and that modern society is rife with inequality. He proposes an alternative system for the development of self-governing, self-disciplined citizens.
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith This 1749 work features highly original theories of conscience, moral judgment, and virtue. It reconstructs the Enlightenment concept of social science, embracing both political economy and theories of law and government.
Early Economic Thought: Selected Writings from Aristotle to Hume by Arthur Eli Monroe A vital and varied survey of economic theory in the pre-modern era, this well-chosen collection includes extracts from the works of Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Antonio Serra, and David Hume.
The Acquisitive Society by R. H. Tawney This 1920 survey, written by a distinguished critic, examines the subject of economic inequality as a by-product of the rise of capitalism, arguing that material acquisitiveness is morally wrong and a corrupting social influence.
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation by David Ricardo This landmark treatise formulated the principles behind the market economy. Its foundation of the tenets of diminishing returns and economic rent led to the doctrines of distribution theory and international trade theory.
The Economic Consequences of the Peace by John Maynard Keynes In 1919, Keynes participated in the negotiations of World War I's armistice. His prophetic view of the European marketplace in the early 20th century has since passed from controversy to conventional wisdom.
