Author · United Kingdom · 1723–1790
Adam Smith
Clear economics and moral philosophy; markets, sympathy, and institutions in balance.
Adam Smith FRSA was a Scottish economist and philosopher who was a pioneer of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Also known as "The Father of Economics" or "The Father of Capitalism".
The Wealth of Nations is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. In his work, Smith introduced his theory of absolute advantage.
Markets and morals for 2026
Adam Smith explains how exchange, custom, and law interact, and he treats sympathy as central to public life. Read him today to improve debates about markets and state, to prefer evidence over slogan, and to see why prosperity and ethics cannot be argued apart.
