ABSTRACT OF PAPER
Title: Sismondi on Smith : a grand tour
Author:
In the few references to Sismondi’s early writings (including the Richesse commerciale), authors like Gide and Rist, Aftalion, Schumpeter, and more recently Sowell and Arena, have used time and again the old cliché about Sismondi as a mere Continental vulgariser of the Wealth of Nations. Using some recent research conducted in parallel with the new edition of Sismondi’s Richesse commerciale, and in order to test and refine an age-old argument dating back to Marx, this paper intends to offer a systematic discussion of four major aspects of this Smith-Sismondi connection. First and foremost, the link in the field of price theories is examined in some detail. Second, the vexed issue of productive and unproductive labour is revisited in view of Sismondi’s later opposition to the Ricardo-Say dominant position. Third, Sismondi’s vigorous free trade position is contrasted with Smith much more prudent approach. Finally, this paper will offer a discussion on Sismondi’s use of Smith’s coordination between the Wealth of Nations and the Moral Sentiments.
Registred web users only can download this paper - Go back
Please note that files available for download have not been checked for viruses. These files have been submitted by authors of the conference to this web site. Conference organisers can't accept any responsibility for damages caused to users by downloading such files.