The book’s importance was immediately recognized by Smith’s peers, and later economists have shown an unusual consensus in their admiration for his ideas.Ĭombining economics, political theory, history, philosophy, and practical programs, Smith assumes that human self-interest is the basic psychological drive behind economics and that a natural order in the universe makes all the individual, self-interested strivings add up to the social good. Adam Smith, a Scottish professor of moral philosophy, expounded the then-revolutionary doctrine of economic liberalism.

“First published in 1776, The Wealth of Nations is generally regarded as the foundation of contemporary economic thought. $22.99 −$5.30 $17.69 View on Amazon The Wealth of Nations Robert Gordon contends that the nation’s productivity growth will be further held back by the headwinds of rising inequality, stagnating education, an aging population, and the rising debt of college students and the federal government, and that we must find new solutions.Ī critical voice in the most pressing debates of our time, The Rise and Fall of American Growth is at once a tribute to a century of radical change and a harbinger of tougher times to come.” Weaving together a vivid narrative, historical anecdotes, and economic analysis, The Rise and Fall of American Growth challenges the view that economic growth will continue unabated, and demonstrates that the life-altering scale of innovations between 18 cannot be repeated. But has that era of unprecedented growth come to an end? “In the century after the Civil War, an economic revolution improved the American standard of living in ways previously unimaginable.Įlectric lighting, indoor plumbing, motor vehicles, air travel, and television transformed households and workplaces. $17.00 −$2.01 $14.99 View on Amazon The Rise and Fall of American Growth

Basic economics paperback