An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

by Adam Smith

"An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Smith and Garnier" is a foundational economics treatise published in 1776. Adam Smith examines what builds nations' wealth during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. He introduces revolutionary concepts like division of labor, free markets, and the "invisible hand" of self-interest guiding economic activity. Challenging the mercantilist policies of his era, Smith advocates for free trade, open competition, and reduced regulation. This groundbreaking work shaped classical economics and provided the theoretical foundation for free market capitalism that influenced governments and thinkers for centuries.