Essay on the Nature of Commerce in General [Paperback]

Richard Cantillon (Author), Antony A. Brewer (Introduction), Anthony Brewer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0765804999 | ISBN-13: 978-0765804990 | Publication Date: May 31, 2001

Richard Cantillon is one of the key figures in the early history of economics. He was certainly not the first to think about economic problems, but he was the first to have clear insight into the way the economy functions as a system. He was arguably the first to structure a theory of how the economy works. In this sense he could be called the first real economist. Today, his ideas on population, determination of prices, wages and interest, the role of the entrepreneur, banking, and the influence of money supply on the economy are increasingly quoted and appreciated. This is a translation of the Éssai sur la nature du commerce en général his only surviving work. It was circulated in manuscript form for many years after his death and was extremely influential, albeit not well known, at least throughout the eighteenth century. The Essay on the Nature of Commerce in General shaped the development of economics through its formative influence on François Quesnay and Adam Smith. It is a cornerstone upon which all subsequent economic theory has been built. Transaction is proud to breathe new life into this classic work as part of its distinguished series in economic theory and history. In his new introduction, Anthony Brewer showcases Cantillon, the prophetic thinker, for a new generation of readers. This volume's broad-based appeal and great cultural import can no longer afford to be overlooked. Students of economic theory, intellectual historians, and sociologists will find this volume indispensable.

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Transaction Publishers (May 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765804999
• ISBN-13: 978-0765804990
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars A Pioneer, April 22, 2010

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This review is from: Essay on the Nature of Commerce in General (Paperback)

More than any other pre-Classical figure, Cantillon deserves to be considered the first legitimate economist. His treatise stands as the first systematic study of economics as a whole, interconnected system. And because of his place in the history of economic thought, it's scarcely possible to list all of his contributions to this field - contributions felt to this day. Cantillon covers, among other topics, methodology, price formation, interest, entrepreneurship (undertakers), and trade theory. One amazing feature includes his price-specie-flow mechanism, something most attribute to Hume. He is also the earliest economist that I know of to have used the term "bubbles" to describe a boom-bust cycle. But Cantillon did have flaws too. His discussion on intrinsic and market-based value, for instance, has been a source of confusion. He also favored protectionist policies for military and population purposes. At any rate, I consider this one of the most important books in economics ever written.