Reading Notes

Adam Smith

The Wealth of Nations

Plan of the Work and Book I, Chapter 1

General Stuff

What is the full title of this book?

When was it published?

Introduction and Plan of the Work

[1]-[2]  What is the wealth of a nation? (That is, how is the wealth of a nation measured?)

[3] What two circumstances determine the wealth of a nation, other things being equal? (That is, what is wealth “regulated by”?)

[4] Of these two, which “seems to” be more important? What example does Smith give to support his argument?

[5] What is the first subject Smith plans to address in the Wealth of Nations?

[6] What determines the number of those employed in useful labor?

Book I, Chapter 1

[1] What has caused the greatest increase in the productive powers of labor?

[2] How does Smith propose to show the effects of the division of labor?

[3] What does the example of the pin factory show?

[4] Is the pin factory a special case?

[5]–[8] Why does the division of labor lead to an increase in productivity?

[10]-[11] What is the result of the increase in productivity created by the division of labor?