# The Masters — The Wealth of Nations character guide

> The Masters in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the masters, The masters, their

**First appearance:** 0011-viii-of-the-wages-of-labour

## Who they are

The employers whose birth and fortune set them above other men, and whose authority quietly becomes the state's first government.

## In the story

### [Of the Natural and Market Price of Commodities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/vii-of-the-natural-and-market-price-of-commodities)

Implied as employers who withdraw stock when market price falls below natural price.

### [X: Of Wages and Profit in the Different Employments of Labour and Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/x-of-wages-and-profit-in-the-different-employments-of-labour-and-stock)

Immediate employers of workmen; their profits are part of the price of manufactured goods sent to the country.

### [II: Inequalities Occasioned by the Policy of Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-inequalities-occasioned-by-the-policy-of-europe)

Masters in incorporated trades who regulate apprenticeships and restrict competition.

### [Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, After the Fall of the Roman Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-the-rise-and-progress-of-cities-and-towns-after-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire)

Mentioned as lords who controlled the servile inhabitants of towns and later opposed the burghers.

### [II: Of Restraints Upon the Importation from Foreign Countries of Such Goods as Can Be Produced at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-of-restraints-upon-the-importation-from-foreign-countries-of-such-goods-as-can-be-produced-at-home)

Refers to merchants and manufacturers who benefit from monopolies and lobby for protectionist policies.

### [Taxes Upon the Profit of Particular Employments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/taxes-upon-the-profit-of-particular-employments)

Mentioned in the context of poll-taxes on slaves, where masters know the number of their slaves and pay accordingly.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_masters
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters