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On The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation Part 1

PREFACE The produce of the earth — all that is derived from its surface by the united application of labour, machinery, and capital, is divided among three classes of the community; namely, the proprietor of the land, the owner of the stock or capital necessary for its cultivation, and the labourers by whose industry it […]

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book 5

BOOK FIVE OF THE REVENUE OF THE SOVEREIGN OR COMMONWEALTH CHAPTER I: Of the Expenses of the Sovereign or Commonwealth ——————————————————————————– PART 1 Of the Expense of Defence THE first duty of the sovereign, that of protecting the society from the violence and invasion of other independent societies, can be performed only by means of […]

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book 4

BOOK FOUR INTRODUCTION ——————————————————————————– OF SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL economy, considered as a branch of the science of a statesman or legislator, proposes two distinct objects: first, to provide a plentiful revenue or subsistence for the people, or more properly to enable them to provide such a revenue or subsistence for themselves; and secondly, […]

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book 3

BOOK THREE CHAPTER ONE ——————————————————————————– OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRESS OF OPULENCE IN DIFFERENT NATIONS Of the Natural Progress of Opulence THE great commerce of every civilised society is that carried on between the inhabitants of the town and those of the country. It consists in the exchange of rude for manufactured produce, either immediately, or […]

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book 2

BOOK TWO – INTRODUCTION OF THE NATURE, ACCUMULATION, AND EMPLOYMENT OF STOCK ——————————————————————————– IN that rude state of society in which there is no division of labour, in which exchanges are seldom made, and in which every man provides everything for himself, it is not necessary that any stock should be accumulated or stored up […]

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book 1

BOOK ONE 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 THE greatest improvement in the productive powers of labour, and the greater part of the […]

History of Panics – The force of Creative Destruction

The History of Financial Panics By Martin A. Armstrong Throughout time, the economy of mankind has swung back and forth between some fantastic periods of prosperity and deep dark depressions. It is our failure to understand this mechanism that often drives the politics of the world also between two extremes of totalitarian regimes and communism […]

Roman Coin Sets

Roman Coins The response to the offering of Roman Coins was simply overwhelming. So many people have written asking how they can buy Roman Coins and others realizing these are from the 3rd Century have asked are there examples available documenting the collapse of the monetary system? I have contacted some old friends with respect to […]