Wealth grows from how people work, exchange, and specialize in a division of labor.
This edition presents a clear view of how land, capital, and work fit together to form and distribute wealth, with everyday implications for price, profit, and progress. Readable and practical, it explains why equal land division isn’t sustainable and how advances in capital fuel farming, manufacturing, and trade.
The text traces how people exchange goods and labor as production moves from the field to the workshop and market. It shows why wealth depends on the roles of farmers, artisans, and merchants, and how money, interest, and profits shape the costs and rewards of enterprise. You’ll see how capital circulates, why lenders deserve a return, and how this system supports broader economic activity.
- How labor and land interact to drive exchange and economic life
- How capital and advances enable manufacturing and agriculture
- How wages, profits, and interest relate to production and risk
- The distinction between property owners and working producers in a growing economy
Ideal for readers of economic history and philosophy, this work offers a foundational look at how wealth is formed and distributed in a changing society.