经济史学论坛第6期：Adam Smith and the Wealth and Welfare of Nations

题目：Adam Smith and the Wealth and Welfare of Nations

主讲人：

Terry Peach

Professor of Economics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, UK

Terry Peachis a historian of economic thought. He studied at Oxford University and is currently Professor of Economics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, UK. He has published books, articles and editions on Smith, Ricardo, ‘classical’ economics more generally, Jevons and, recently, on the history of ancient Chinese economic thought. He is currently working on the political economy of the Han

时间：2017年11月6日（周一）13:30-16:00

地点：复旦大学第五教学楼5104教室

主办单位：复旦大学经济思想与经济史研究所

Abstract：Why did Adam Smith, a moral philosopher, bother to write a book on ‘wealth’? In this presentation it is argued that his main concern was with the welfare (or ‘real happiness’) of the impoverished social majority (the labourers), and that he advocated a ‘system of natural liberty’ because he believed it was the only practical means of achieving his objective. He also came to realise that any material benefits from his ‘system’ would be overwhelmed by the destruction of labourers’ intellectual and social abilities. Although he did suggest various policies to ameliorate the negative outcomes, it turns out that his project was, on its own terms, a tragic failure. It will be suggested by way of conclusion that the issues Smith was dealing with are still of relevance today.