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Positive Wirtschaftsanalyse oder normativer Wirtschaftsentwurf?: Adam Smiths kommerzielle Gesellschaft als wirtschaftspolitische Utopie

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  • Kremser Christian E. W.

    (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle, Frankfurter Straße 29–3565760 EschbornEschborn, Germany)

Abstract

Many people consider Adam Smith the first economist to describe the functioning of capitalism. In fact, Smith must be considered less the discoverer of capitalism, but rather as its inventor. The economic laws Smith formulated are institutionally bound to the commercial society, to use the corresponding phrase of Smith, which at that time – at least in its liberal version – has not yet be materialized. In this sense, it represents a utopia of economic policy that still had to be realized. Smith’s comments on commercial society should therefore be understood less as a positive economic analysis than as a normative economic draft.

Suggested Citation

  • Kremser Christian E. W., 2018. "Positive Wirtschaftsanalyse oder normativer Wirtschaftsentwurf?: Adam Smiths kommerzielle Gesellschaft als wirtschaftspolitische Utopie," Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 67(2), pages 219-245, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:lus:zwipol:v:67:y:2018:i:2:p:219-245:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/zfwp-2018-0010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Warren J. Samuels & Steven G. Medema, 2005. "Freeing Smith from the “Free Market”: On the Misperception of Adam Smith on the Economic Role of Government," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 37(2), pages 219-226, Summer.
    2. Herzog, Lisa, 2013. "Inventing the Market: Smith, Hegel, and Political Theory," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199674176.
    3. Kremser Christian E. W., 2014. "Adam Smith und die Bankenregulierung Ein Widerspruch zu einer sonst liberalen Wirtschaftspolitik?," Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 63(3), pages 293-328, December.
    4. Simon Cook, 2013. "From Ancients and Moderns to Geography and Anthropology: The Meaning of History in the Thought of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Alfred Marshall," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 45(2), pages 311-343, Summer.
    5. Ronald L. Meek, 1971. "Smith, Turgot, and the “Four Stages” Theory," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 3(1), pages 9-27, Spring.
    6. Alvey, James E., 2003. "Adam Smith'S Optimistic Teleological View Of History," Discussion Papers 23708, Massey University, Department of Applied and International Economics.
    7. Skinner, Andrew S, 1990. "The Shaping of Political Economy in the Enlightenment," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 37(2), pages 145-165, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Philosophy of History; Progress Theory; Utopia; Enlightenment; Capitalism; Geschichtsphilosophie; Fortschrittstheorie; Utopie; Aufklärung; Kapitalismus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)

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