In order to easily navigate the Wealth of Nations, here is an outline or map of the important ideas that are in each sentence and paragraph. Unlike other summaries which just get the most prominent idea in a paragraph, this version extracts each idea from each sentence and summarizes all similar ideas into a new sentence. A paragraph which has many ideas and supporting ideas imbued in it will therefore have many sentences.
This outline will help transform The Wealth of Nations into a manual for socio-economic science, just like when a mechanic consults a car’s service manual when troubleshooting a car. This manual can address both simple and complex questions about socio-economics, especially useful during future socio-economic crises.
Please click on each of the sections of Books 4-5 below:
Simplification Notes:
- Quotes in green text are profound statements by Adam Smith
- Quotes in bold green text are direct maxims. A sentence is treated as a maxim if a thought is repeated by Smith with authority (such as his definition of real value) and if Smith indicates it as such (“It may be treated as a maxim that..”).
- Lines in bold green italics are maxims derived from Smith which are re-worded
- Lines in bold black are subheadings for a series of paragraphs about a certain idea
Book IV: Of Systems Of Political Œconomy
Introduction
Chap 1: Of The Principle Of The Commercial Or Mercantile System
- Metal Money Supply
- International Trade
- Import Restraints
- Retaliatory Restraints
- Restoring Trade
- Extraordinary Restraints
Chap 3b:Digression Concerning Banks Of Deposit, Particularly Concerning That Of Amsterdam
Chap 3c: Part 2: Of The Unreasonableness Of Those Extraordinary Restraints Upon Other Principles
Chap. 5c: Digression Concerning The Corn Trade And Corn Laws
Chap 6a: Of Treaties Of Commerce. Articles I, II, III
Chap 7: Of Colonies: Part I: Of The Motives For Establishing New Colonies
Chap 7b: Part 2: Causes Of The Prosperity Of New Colonies
Chap 8: Conclusion Of The Mercantile System
Book V: Of The Revenue Of The Sovereign Or Commonwealth
Chap 1: Of The Expences Of The Sovereign Or Commonwealth: Part 1: Of The Expence Of Defence
- Armies and militia
Chap 1c Part 2: Of The Expence Of Justice
Chap 1d: Part 3: Of The Expence Of Public Works And Public Institutions: – Article 1: Of The Public Works And Institutions For Facilitating The Commerce Of The Society And, First, Of Those Which Are Necessary For Facilitating Commerce In General
Chap. 1f: Article 2: Of The Expence Of The Institutions For The Education Of Youth
Chap 1g: Article 3: Of The Expence Of The Institutions For The Instruction Of People Of All Ages
Chap 1h: Part 4: Of The Expence Of Supporting The Dignity Of The Sovereign: Conclusion
Chap 2: Of The Sources Of The General Or Public Revenue Of The Society: Part 1: Of The Funds Or Sources Of Revenue Which May Peculiarly Belong To The Sovereign Or Commonwealth
Chap. 2c: – Article 1: Taxes Upon Rent. Taxes Upon The Rent Of Land, — Taxes Which Are Proportioned, Not To The Rent, But To The Produce Of Land, Taxes Upon The Rent Of Houses
Chap 2d: Article 2: Taxes Upon Profit, Or Upon The Revenue Arising From Stock
Chap 2e: Taxes Upon The Profit Of Particular Employments
Chap 2f: — Appendix To Articles I And Ii Taxes Upon The Capital Value Of Land, Houses, And Stock
Chap. 2g: Article 3: Taxes Upon The Wages Of Labour, Article 4: Taxes Which, It Is Intended, Should Fall Indifferently Upon Every Different Species Of Revenue, – Capitation Taxes
Economic Superphysics 