An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (The Modern Library of the World's Best Books) (Modern Library Giant G32)

lx, 976 pp. 8vo. The Cannan edition, complete and unabridged in one volume, with Cannan's introduction and notes, a complete index, and a new introduction by Max Lerner (editor of The Nation). "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (generally referred to by the short title The Wealth of Nations) is the magnum opus written by Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith and first published in 1776. It is an account of economics at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, as well as a rhetorical piece written for the generally educated individual of the 18th century - advocating a free market economy as more productive and more beneficial to society. The book is often considered to have laid the basic groundwork for modern economic theory." - Wikipedia