References to Africa in Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and Some Key Propositions Surrounding Them

Amavilah, Voxi Heinrich (2010): References to Africa in Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and Some Key Propositions Surrounding Them.

Abstract

Adam Smith sought to illustrate some of his propositions in The Wealth of Nations (WON) with examples from Africa. However, the examples were few, and many were neither profound nor instructive from a principles viewpoint. I find that Africa figures very little in the WON, and nearly every time it appears cursory. With 20/20 hindsight, one may conclude that opinions about Africa have remained invariant with respect to time. Final value-judgment about whether that is a good or bad thing rests with the reader.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Africa in Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith
• Subjects: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B3 - History of Economic Thought: Individuals > B31 - Individuals; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O55 - Africa; F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F10 - General; N - Economic History > N1 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics ; Industrial Structure ; Growth ; Fluctuations > N17 - Africa ; Oceania; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A11 - Role of Economics ; Role of Economists ; Market for Economists

References

Lerner, M. Ideas are weapons: The history and uses of idea, Viking Press, New York, 1939.

Shinnie, M. Ancient African Kingdoms, Mentor Book/New American Library, New York, 1965.

Smith, A. Selections from The Wealth of Nations, George J. Stigler (editor), (IL), Harlan Davidson, Inc., Alrlington Heights, 1957.

Smith, A. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Edwin Cannan (editor), Max Lerner (introducer), Modern Library, New York.

Stigler, G.J. The Intellectual and the Marketplace, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1984.