Adam Smith

An Inquiry into the Nature And Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 1776

Online edition © 1995-2005 Adam Smith Institute

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Book Five

Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth.




CHAPTER II

Of the Sources of the General or Public Revenue of the Society

THE revenue which must defray, not only the expense of defending the society and of supporting the dignity of the chief magistrate, but all the other necessary expenses of government for which the constitution of the state has not provided any particular revenue, may be drawn either, first, from some fund which peculiarly belongs to the sovereign or commonwealth, and which is independent of the revenue of the people; or, secondly, from the revenue of the people.

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