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The Answer Is Transaction Costs « »
Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations: Episode 4--Capital and Book II: Introduction

20d ago 54:38

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Book Two of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" provides the conceptual foundation for understanding how commercial society sustains growth through capital accumulation and the employment of stock. Smith challenges common misconceptions about wealth creation and offers profound insights on the role of capital in economic development.
• Capital is not capitalism – Smith wrote before "capitalism" was invented, using the term "stock" to describe accumulated resources
• Division of stock works alongside division of labor – capital must be accumulated before it can be employed productively
• Justice (protection of person, property, and promise) is prerequisite for investment – without security, people hide rather than invest their stock
• Fixed capital (tools, buildings, skills) versus circulating capital (money, wages, materials) form different branches of stock
• Money serves as "the great wheel of circulation" – facilitating exchange but not itself productive
• Banking allows society to operate with less precious metal – freeing resources for productive investment
• Productive labor creates vendible commodities while unproductive labor (government, services) perishes in performance
• Parsimony (saving) drives growth while prodigality reduces funds available for productive employment
• Interest is legitimate compensation for foregone use of capital – similar to rent on land
• Agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail are the four main employments of capital
• Modern financial markets solve Marx's "primitive accumulation" problem – entrepreneurs can sell shares of future profits
Let me know your thoughts on these ideas from Adam Smith in the comments below.

If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at [email protected] !

You can follow Mike Munger on Twitter at @mungowitz

Chapters

1. Introduction to Book Two (00:00:00)

2. The Division of Stock and Capital (00:09:57)

3. Marx vs Smith on Capitalism (00:22:33)

4. Fixed vs Circulating Capital (00:37:14)

5. Money as a Wheel of Circulation (00:54:51)

6. Banking, Credit and Economic Growth (01:12:10)

7. Productive vs Unproductive Labor (01:26:02)

8. Interest, Usury and Legitimate Returns (01:40:30)

9. Four Employments of Capital (01:53:07)

10. Solving the Primitive Accumulation Problem (02:07:39)

64 episodes

#Science #Social Sciences #Michael Munger #Politics #News #Comedy

Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations: Episode 4--Capital and Book II: Introduction

The Answer Is Transaction Costs

26 subscribers

published 20d ago

MP3•Episode home

Send us a text

If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at [email protected] !

You can follow Mike Munger on Twitter at @mungowitz

Chapters

1. Introduction to Book Two (00:00:00)

2. The Division of Stock and Capital (00:09:57)

3. Marx vs Smith on Capitalism (00:22:33)

4. Fixed vs Circulating Capital (00:37:14)

5. Money as a Wheel of Circulation (00:54:51)

6. Banking, Credit and Economic Growth (01:12:10)

7. Productive vs Unproductive Labor (01:26:02)

8. Interest, Usury and Legitimate Returns (01:40:30)

9. Four Employments of Capital (01:53:07)

10. Solving the Primitive Accumulation Problem (02:07:39)

64 episodes

#Science #Social Sciences #Michael Munger #Politics #News #Comedy

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The Answer Is Transaction Costs « » Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations: Episode 4--Capital and Book II: Introduction

If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at [email protected] !

Chapters

1. Introduction to Book Two (00:00:00)

2. The Division of Stock and Capital (00:09:57)

3. Marx vs Smith on Capitalism (00:22:33)

4. Fixed vs Circulating Capital (00:37:14)

5. Money as a Wheel of Circulation (00:54:51)

6. Banking, Credit and Economic Growth (01:12:10)

7. Productive vs Unproductive Labor (01:26:02)

8. Interest, Usury and Legitimate Returns (01:40:30)

9. Four Employments of Capital (01:53:07)

10. Solving the Primitive Accumulation Problem (02:07:39)

Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations: Episode 4--Capital and Book II: Introduction

If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at [email protected] !

Chapters

1. Introduction to Book Two (00:00:00)

2. The Division of Stock and Capital (00:09:57)

3. Marx vs Smith on Capitalism (00:22:33)

4. Fixed vs Circulating Capital (00:37:14)

5. Money as a Wheel of Circulation (00:54:51)

6. Banking, Credit and Economic Growth (01:12:10)

7. Productive vs Unproductive Labor (01:26:02)

8. Interest, Usury and Legitimate Returns (01:40:30)

9. Four Employments of Capital (01:53:07)

10. Solving the Primitive Accumulation Problem (02:07:39)

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The Answer Is Transaction Costs « »
Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations: Episode 4--Capital and Book II: Introduction