The Wealth of Nations

The foundation for all modern economic thought and political economy, "The Wealth of Nations" is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith, who introduces the world to the very idea of economics and capitalism in the modern sense of the words. Smith details his argument in the following five books: Introduction and plan of the work Part 1 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 1 Of the Division of Labour Chapter 2 Of the Principle which gives Occasion to the Division of Labour Chapter 3 That the Division of Labour is limited by the Extent of the Market Chapter 4 Of the Origin and Use of Money Chapter 5 Of the real and nominal Price of Commodities, or of their Price in Labour, and their Price in Money Chapter 6 Of the component Parts of the Price of Commodities Chapter 7 Of the natural and market Price of Commodities Chapter 8 Of the Wages of Labour Chapter 9 Of the Profits of Stock Chapter 10 Of Wages and Profit in the different Employments of Labour and Stock Chapter 11 Of the Rent of Land 1. First Period 2. Second Period 3. Third Period 4. First Sort 5. Second Sort 6. Third Sort 7. Conclusion of the chapter Part 2 Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock Chapter 1 Of the Division of Stock Chapter 2 Of Money considered as a particular Branch of the general Stock of the Society, or of the Experience of maintaining the National Capital Chapter 3 Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of productive and unproductive Labour Chapter 4 Of Stock lent at Interest Chapter 5 Of the different Employment of Capitals Part 3 Of the different Progress of Opulence in different Nations Chapter 1 Of the Natural Progress of Opulence Chapter 2 Of the Discouragement of Agriculture in the ancient State of Europe after the Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 3 Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, after the Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 4 How the Commerce of the Towns contributed to the Improvement of the Country Part 4 Of Systems of political Economy Chapter 1 Of the Principle of the commercial, or mercantile System Chapter 2 Of Restraints upon the Importation from foreign Countries of such Goods as can be produced at Home Chapter 3 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 1. Of the Unreasonableness of those Restraints even upon the Principles of the Commercial System 2. Of the Unreasonableness of those extraordinary Restraints upon other Principles Chapter 4 Of Drawbacks Chapter 5 Of Bounties Chapter 6 Of Treaties of Commerce Chapter 7 Of Colonies 1. Of the Motives for establishing new Colonies 2. Causes of Prosperity of New Colonies 3. Of the Advantages which Europe has derived from the Discovery of America, and from that of a Passage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope Chapter 8 Conclusion of the Mercantile System Chapter 9 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 Part 5 Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth Chapter 1 Of the Expences of the Sovereign or Commonwealth 1. Of the Expense of Defence 2. Of the Expense of Justice 3. Of the Expense of Public Works and Public Institutions 4. Of the Expense of Supporting the Dignity of the Sovereign 5. Conclusion Chapter 2 Of the Sources of the general or public Revenue of the Society 1. Of the Funds or Sources of Revenue which may peculiarly belong to the Sovereign or Commonwealth 2. Of Taxes Chapter 3 Of public Debts AUDIO BOOK