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

The Wealth of Nations is considered by many to be the historical foundation of economics, though there were some precursors.

Understanding the ideas of Smith from reading this book is hard work, but possible and worthwhile. The fact that most people don’t bother is reflected in the various misquotations and incorrect representations of what he said.

Some of questions which this book attempts to answer are:

Why are some nations richer than others?
What determines prices?
What determines wages, profits and rent?
How can you compare standards of living across time and space?
Why were barbarians dangerous to civilized nations in antiquity, and the reverse now?
Why did feudalism end?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of an established religion?
Should there be tariffs, export subsidies, etc.? (His analysis was not up to modern academic standards, since Ricardo had not yet invented the theory of comparative advantage, but was well ahead of modern newspaper discussions of such issues.)
Should schooling be public or private?
How should universities be organized? Compulsory attendance? Faculty run?
How should taxes be collected?