Editor's Introduction
Author of the Wealth of Nations; his lectures at Glasgow and Edinburgh formed the basis of the book.
Introduction and Plan of the Work
Author and narrator of the work, presenting the plan and scope of the inquiry.
The Wealth of Nations
Author and primary voice of the treatise.
Book I: Of the Causes of Improvement in the Productive Powers of Labour
Author and primary expositor of the principles discussed in Book I.
Of the Division of Labour
Author and narrator, explaining the division of labour and its effects through examples and reasoning.
Of the Principle Which Gives Occasion to the Division of Labour
Author and narrator of the chapter, presenting the principle behind the division of labour.
Chapter III: That the Division of Labour Is Limited by the Extent of the Market
Author and narrator of the chapter's argument.
Of the Origin and Use of Money
Author and narrator, explaining the origin and use of money.
V: Of the Real and Nominal Price of Commodities, or of Their Price in Labour, and Their Price in Money
Author and narrator of the chapter, presenting the distinction between real and nominal price.
Of the Component Parts of the Price of Commodities
Author and narrator of the chapter, explaining the component parts of commodity prices.
Of the Natural and Market Price of Commodities
Author and narrator, explaining the concepts of natural and market price.
VIII: Of the Wages of Labour
Author and narrator; presents the analysis of wages, population, and labour markets.
IX: Of the Profits of Stock
Author and narrator of the chapter, analyzing profits of stock.
I: Inequalities Arising from the Nature of the Employments Themselves
Author and narrator, analyzing the causes of wage and profit inequalities.
II: Inequalities Occasioned by the Policy of Europe
Author and narrator of the chapter, analyzing the inequalities caused by European policies.
Digression Concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver During the Course of the Four Last Centuries
Author and narrator of the digression, analyzing the value of silver and its relation to national wealth.
Second Sort
Author and narrator, analyzing the price dynamics of the second sort of rude produce.
Effects of the Progress of Improvement Upon the Real Price of Manufactures
Author and narrator, analyzing the effects of economic improvement on manufacturing prices.
Book II: Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock
Author and narrator of the analysis on stock.
II: Of Money Considered as a Particular Branch of the General Stock of the Society, or of the Expense of Maintaining the National Capital
Author and narrator; presents the analysis of money as part of national capital.
III: Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of Productive and Unproductive Labour
Author and narrator, defining productive vs. unproductive labour and analyzing capital accumulation.
Book III: Of the different progress of opulence in different nations
Author and narrator of the chapter, presenting his analysis of economic progress.
I: Of the Natural Progress of Opulence
Author and narrator, presenting the natural progress of opulence.
Book IV: Of Systems of Political Economy
Author and narrator, presenting his critique of mercantilism and advocacy for free trade.
I: Of the Principle of the Commercial or Mercantile System
Author and primary voice; critiques the mercantile system and the popular notion that wealth equals money.
II: Of Restraints Upon the Importation from Foreign Countries of Such Goods as Can Be Produced at Home
Author and narrator; presents the core argument against import restraints and for free trade.
V: Of Bounties
Author and primary voice critiquing bounties and mercantile system.
VI: Of Treaties of Commerce
Author and primary commentator, analyzing the Methuen Treaty and critiquing mercantilist trade policies.
VIII: Conclusion of the Mercantile System
Author and narrator; presents the concluding critique of the mercantile system.
Chapter IX: Of the Agricultural Systems, or of Those Systems of Political Œconomy, Which Represent the Produce of Land as Either the Sole or the Principal Source of the Revenue and Wealth of Every Country
Author and critic of the agricultural system, analyzing the Physiocratic distinction between productive and unproductive labor.
Book V: Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth
Author and primary voice analyzing the revenue and expenses of the sovereign.
I: Of the Expense of Defence
Author and narrator, analyzing the expense of defence across different societies.
Of the Expense of Justice
Author and narrator; presents the analysis of justice and government.
And, First, of Those Which Are Necessary for Facilitating Commerce in General
Author and narrator, presenting arguments on public works and commerce.
Article II: Of the Expense of the Institutions for the Education of Youth
Author and commentator on the public expense of education, advocating for state-facilitated schooling for the common people.
IV: Of the Expense of Supporting the Dignity of the Sovereign
Author and narrator of the chapter, discussing the expenses of supporting the sovereign's dignity.
Taxes Upon Rent; Taxes Upon the Rent of Land
Author and primary voice analyzing land-tax systems.
Taxes Upon Profit, or Upon the Revenue Arising from Stock
Author and primary voice analyzing taxation of stock and profit.
