Great Economists · Classical
Adam Smith
A Scottish moral philosopher who explained how self-interest, competition and the division of labor make nations rich, and who also warned about collusion, monopoly and the human costs of specialization. The real Smith is more interesting than the slogan.
Step 1 of 6 · Overview35 min read ·
Key idea
Prereqs: Supply & demand; Comparative advantage (Polymath Core). Next: David Ricardo. Sources: *The Theory of Moral Sentiments* (1759), *The Wealth of Nations* (1776), Nicholas Phillipson's *Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life*.Next: 1. Life