The tradition of free trade
By: Lars Magnusson.
Series: Routledge studies in the history of economics ;; 69
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2004
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 194
Subjects: Free trade -- History -- 19th century.; Free trade -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.; Free trade -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Free trade -- Sweden -- History -- 19th century.; Economic history -- 1750-1918.
Description: "In the nineteenth century followers of Adam Smith and others gradually invented a 'tradition' of free trade. This was a towering achievement and has proved to be influential to this day. This book examines this construction of the free trade tradition." "Showing how historical construction is a vital component in the writing of doctrinal history, Lars Magnusson argues that it is important for historians of economic thought to distance themselves from the practice of writing history backwards. Contrasting what occurred in Britain in the nineteenth century with what occurred in the United States and in Sweden, this book shows that perhaps the classical tradition meant something else entirely in different national contexts." "This original and thought-provoking book is written such that it will be of great interest not only to historians specializing in economic thought, but also historians with other areas of interest."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.