Close Menu
    • Close
    • The House
      • Close
      • The House
      • Overview & Mission
      • The House
      • History & Renovation
      • Meet the Team
      • Governance
        • Close
        • Governance
        • 2022 Annual Review
    • Programmes
      • Close
      • Programmes
      • Adam Smith Lecture Series
        • Close
        • Adam Smith Lecture Series
        • Professor Sir Angus Deaton
        • Andy Haldane
      • Fringe at Panmure
        • Close
        • Fringe at Panmure
        • Adam Smith: Father of the Fringe
        • How to Reach Panmure House
        • 2022
          • Close
          • 2022
          • Carnegie
          • How Heavy?
          • Butcher Brewer Baker
      • Hutton Series on Climate Change
        • Close
        • Hutton Series on Climate Change
        • Session One
          • Close
          • Session One
          • Report: Session One
        • Session Two
          • Close
          • Session Two
          • Report: Session Two
        • Session Three
          • Close
          • Session Three
          • Report: Session Three
        • Session Four
          • Close
          • Session Four
          • Report
        • Session Five
          • Close
          • Session Five
          • Report: Session Five
        • Session Six
          • Close
          • Session Six
          • Category 1: Hutton Series Priorities
          • Category 2: Hutton Series Priorities
          • Category 3: Hutton Series Priorities
          • Category 4: Hutton Series Priorities
        • Series Reports & Perspectives
          • Close
          • Series Reports & Perspectives
          • Hutton Series Infographic
      • Lights of Caledonia
        • Close
        • Lights of Caledonia
        • Lights of Caledonia with Andrew Gilmour
        • Lights of Caledonia with Caroline Howitt
      • New Enlightenment
        • Close
        • New Enlightenment
        • 2019 Conference
          • Close
          • 2019 Conference
          • Breakout Sessions
        • 2020 Virtual Conference
        • The First Panmure House Declaration
      • Panmure House Prize
        • Close
        • Panmure House Prize
        • Media & Press
          • Close
          • Media & Press
          • Panmure House Prize Launch Press Release
          • Winner Press Release
        • 2021 Prize Winner
          • Close
          • 2021 Prize Winner
          • Research Results Presentation
            • Close
            • Research Results Presentation
            • Watch Live: Panmure House Prize Results Presentation
        • Emergent Thought Award
        • 2022 Prize Winner
      • Smith Schools' Series
        • Close
        • Smith Schools' Series
        • Terms & Conditions
        • CLPL Training
          • Close
          • CLPL Training
          • Feedback - CLPL Training
    • Adam Smith
      • Close
      • Adam Smith
      • Biography
        • Close
        • Biography
        • Family and Childhood, 1723 - 1737
        • Glasgow and Oxford, 1757 - 1747
        • Teaching in Edinburgh and Glasgow, 1746 - 1764
        • Travel in Europe and England, 1764 - 1767
        • Enlightenment, 1767 - 1778
        • Later years, 1778 - 1790
        • Smith's Legacy
      • Works
        • Close
        • Works
        • The Wealth of Nations
          • Close
          • The Wealth of Nations
          • Book One
          • Book Two
          • Book Three
          • Book Four
          • Book Five
        • The Theory of Moral Sentiments
      • Influence
      • Smith’s Contemporaries
      • Further reading
      • Smith Quotes & FAQs
    • Get Involved
      • Close
      • Get Involved
      • What’s On
      • Make a Donation
      • Society of Panmure House
        • Close
        • Society of Panmure House
        • Join the Society of Panmure House
          • Close
          • Join the Society of Panmure House
          • The Society of Panmure House
          • Card Payment
      • Ambassadors
      • Panmure House Newsletter
      • List of Supporters
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Social Media
      • Work with Us
      • Contact Us
    • Venue use
      • Close
      • Venue use
      • Founder Sponsorship
      • Terms Of Engagement
      • Rooms & Facilities
        • Close
        • Rooms & Facilities
        • Event Setups & Room Layouts
      • Venue use
    • Panmure House Perspectives
      • Close
      • Panmure House Perspectives
      • Articles
      • Podcasts
    Home Home
    • Search
    • Menu

    The Wealth of Nations

    The wealth of nations

    The first edition of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations was published in 1776. Since then it has gone through numerous editions and has been translated into every major modern language. Put simply, it is one of the most important books in history.

    Smith intended The Wealth of Nations to be a broad-ranging investigation into how commerce had come to influence contemporary society, for good and ill. Its wide scope, and Smith’s attempt to prove the working of an interdependent system of principles, meant the work was highly innovative. So much so that it is credited with giving birth to a whole new science: economics.

    Split over five separate books, the work combines history, politics and philosophy with Smith’s own critical observations of the world around him. Since its publication, The Wealth of Nations has been analysed, discussed and argued over, especially those sections dealing with the invisible and self-correcting motivation of individuals. Contrasting interpretations of the work have since shaped economic thinking and coloured the reputation of Adam Smith.

    • Book One
    • Book Two
    • Book Three
    • Book Four
    • Book Five
    Panmure House Logo
    © 2023 Heriot-Watt University
    Website by Gecko Agency
    Panmure House is located at 4 Lochend Close, Edinburgh EH8 8BL. Correspondence address:
    Panmure House, c/o Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS.
    • HWU
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    Edinburgh Business School Logo
    Panmure House is a holding of Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University. Scottish registered charity number SC000278.
    Back to top
    Website by Gecko Agency