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Adam Smith: Critical Theorist?

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  • Keith Tribe

Abstract

The bicentenary of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations in 1976 was marked by the publication of a new complete edition of his works and correspondence, bringing together for the first time all extant published and unpublished writings. A basis was thereby provided for serious reconsideration of Adam Smith's work, and since the early 1980s many conventional assumptions concerning Smith's work and contemporary significance have been challenged. This paper surveys the foundations upon which this new, "historical" Adam Smith has been constructed, and assesses the merits of the principal claims which have recently been made for his work.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith Tribe, 1999. "Adam Smith: Critical Theorist?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(2), pages 609-632, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:37:y:1999:i:2:p:609-632
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.37.2.609
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/jel.37.2.609
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peach,Terry, 1993. "Interpreting Ricardo," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521260862.
    2. Nathan Rosenberg, 1994. "The Emergence Of Economic Ideas," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 376.
    3. Edwin G. West, 1995. "Adam Smith on the Cultural Effects of Specialization: Splenetics Versus Economics," Carleton Economic Papers 95-09, Carleton University, Department of Economics, revised May 1996.
    4. Gary M. Anderson, 1989. "The Butcher, the Baker, and the Policy-Maker: Adam Smith on Public Choice, with a Reply by Stigler," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 21(4), pages 641-659, Winter.
    5. Edwin G. West, 1996. "Adam Smith on the Cultural Effects of Specialization: Splenetics versus Economics," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 28(1), pages 83-105, Spring.
    6. Spencer J. Pack, 1991. "Capitalism as a Moral System," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 346.
    7. Anderson, Gary M & Shughart, William F, II & Tollison, Robert D, 1985. "Adam Smith in the Customhouse," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 93(4), pages 740-759, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elias L. Khalil, 2002. "Is Adam Smith Liberal?," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 158(4), pages 664-664, December.
    2. Menudo, Jose M., 2011. "Market Stability in Adam Smith: Competitive Process and Institutions," MPRA Paper 15361, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Jonathan B. Wight, 2005. "Adam Smith and Greed," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 21(Fall 2005), pages 46-58.
    4. Edwin West, 2000. "Charles L. Griswold, Jr., Adam Smith and the Virtues of Enlightenment," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 104(1), pages 183-191, July.
    5. Laura Hyman, 2014. "Happiness and Memory: Some Sociological Reflections," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 19(2), pages 1-9, May.
    6. George Bragues, 2009. "Adam Smith’s Vision of the Ethical Manager," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 90(4), pages 447-460, December.
    7. Scott Drylie, 2020. "Professional Scholarship from 1893 to 2020 on Adam Smith’s Views on School Funding: A Heterodox Examination," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 17(2), pages 350–391-3, September.
    8. Clark, Michael J., 2021. "Adam Smith as Solon: Accommodating on the edges of liberty, not abandoning it," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 739-747.
    9. Drylie, Scott, 2021. "Adam Smith on schooling: A classical liberal rereading," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 748-770.
    10. Mark Blaug, 2001. "No History of Ideas, Please, We're Economists," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 145-164, Winter.
    11. Roger Middleton, 2017. "The Economy of the Word: Language, History and Economics, by Keith Tribe," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 395-399, March.
    12. Alvey, James E., 2003. "Adam Smith'S View Of History: Consistent Or Paradoxical?," Discussion Papers 23710, Massey University, Department of Applied and International Economics.
    13. Esa Mangeloja, 2003. "Application of Economic Concepts on Religious Behavior," Others 0310003, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Wagner-Tsukamoto Sigmund, 2013. "The Adam Smith Problem Revisited: A Methodological Resolution," Journal des Economistes et des Etudes Humaines, De Gruyter, vol. 19(1), pages 63-99, September.

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    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals

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