An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, generally referred to by its shortened title
The Wealth of Nations, is the
magnum opus of the
Scottish economist and moral philosopher
Adam Smith. First published in 1776, the book offers one of the world's first collected descriptions of what builds nations' wealth and is today a fundamental work in
classical economics. By reflecting upon the economics at the beginning of the
Industrial Revolution, the book touches upon such broad topics as the
division of labour, productivity, and
free markets.