Contenu de l'article

Titre Adam Smith and the Political Economy of American Independance
Auteur Robert F. Hebert
Mir@bel Revue Cahiers d'économie politique
Numéro no 27-28, automne 1996-printemps 1997 Le libéralisme à l'épreuve : de l'empire aux nations. (Adam Smith et l'économie coloniale)
Page 73-88
Résumé anglais It is generally recognized that Adam Smith argued in The Wealth of Nations in favor of independence for the American colonies. The explicit grounds on which Smith based this argument have not been held to close scrutiny, however. In recent years, Donald Winch has attempted to right the balance between studies of Smith's economics and his politics. Which raised the following questions : Did Smith favor independence of the American colonies on political or economic grounds ? Since Smith was not always explicit in this regard, what particular grounds can be inferred from what is generally known about Smith's politics and/or his economics ? This paper analyzes and explains the grounds for Smith's argument in favor or American independence. It adopts a holistic approach that seeks to integrate Smith's political and economic thought, and utilizes a benefit-cost framework to explicate Smith's final position on the question of American independence.
Source : Éditeur (via Persée)
Article en ligne http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/cep_0154-8344_1996_num_27_1_1196