Elements of Political Economy

by James Mill

Description

James Mill (1773-1836) was a Scottish historian, economist, political theorist, and philosopher. He was the father of influential philosopher of classical liberalism, John Stuart Mill. In 1798, he was licensed as a preacher, but met with little success. From 1790 to 1802, in addition to holding various tutorships, he occupied himself with historical and philosophical studies. From 1803 to 1806, he was editor of an ambitious periodical called the Literary Journal. About the end of 1806 he show more began his The History of British India, which he took twelve years to complete. In 1814, he wrote a number of articles, containing an exposition of utilitarianism, for the supplement to the fifth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the most important being Jurisprudence, Prisons and Prison Discipline and Government. In 1821, he helped found the Political Economy Club in London, which became a stomping ground for Ricardian economists and Benthamite radicals. Mill's Elements of Political Economy (1821) became the leading textbook exposition of doctrinaire Ricardian economics. show less

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ServusLibri 106 reviews

The work is flawed by an overreliance of the now disdained ‘labor theory’ of value, but contains several other worthwhile features: a refutation of positions of Hume and Malthus, solid statements of the use of money and types of taxation.

The work reviews Production, Consumption, Exchange, and Distribution. Points are made clearly and accurately reflect thinking on economy of the early nineteenth century in England and America. Well worth a reading by those interested in the history of economics and some aspects of government.

Nov 2, 2008

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