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'Universal opulence': Adam Smith on technical progress and real wages

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  • Tony Aspromourgos

Abstract

This paper first considers the character of Smith's account of division of labour as a theory of technical progress. In so far as Smith's account does entail a vision of liberal or competitive commercial society as exhibiting ongoing technical progress, this must have implications for income distribution through time. The paper therefore also considers, in particular, Smith's conception of the course of real wages in competitive commercial society, and how this connects with his view of technical progress. A reconciliation of Smith's theory of real wages and his prediction of high and rising real wages over time is suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Tony Aspromourgos, 2010. "'Universal opulence': Adam Smith on technical progress and real wages," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(5), pages 1169-1182.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:17:y:2010:i:5:p:1169-1182
    DOI: 10.1080/09672567.2010.522241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonella Stirati, 1994. "THE THEORY OF WAGES IN CLASSICAL ECONOmiCS," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 417.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alex M. Thomas, 2019. "Adam Smith on Wages and Education: Some Policy Implications for India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 13(1), pages 84-89, April.
    2. Meacci, Ferdinando, 2020. "The Link Between Capital Accumulation And Increasing Wages In An Updated Version Of Smith’S Theory Of Population," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(3), pages 385-400, September.
    3. Erik W. Matson, 2022. "What is liberal about Adam Smith's “liberal plan”?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(2), pages 593-610, October.
    4. Claudius Graebner & Stephan Puehringer, 2021. "Competition universalism: Its historical origins and timely alternatives," ICAE Working Papers 125, Johannes Kepler University, Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy.

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