Adam Smith Institute Marks 250 Years Since The Publication of the Wealth of Nations

• Monday, 9th March, marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, the foundational text of modern economics.

• Adam Smith’s magnum opus revolutionised how the world understood value, trade and prosperity, proving that free exchange creates abundance for all.

• Two and a half centuries later, after capitalism has fundamentally transformed global living standards, Smith’s insights remain the essential guide for escaping economic stagnation and unlocking growth.

• As much of the developed world grapples with renewed government overreach and rising protectionism, the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) is using this anniversary to champion the enduring power of free trade, free markets and individual liberty.

• To mark this historic milestone, the ASI is launching a suite of initiatives to bring Smith’s wisdom to a new generation, including Rory Sutherland’s 1776 Lecture, the publication of The Wealth of Nations Graphic Novel, and its latest Growth Agenda, which shows how free-market principles can get Britain growing.

Media Opportunities & Interviews

Dr. Eamonn Butler, Director of the Adam Smith Institute, is available for broadcast interviews, podcasts and print commentary throughout the week. As one of the world's leading experts on Smithian economics, Dr. Butler offers unparalleled insight into how 18th-century philosophy provides the solutions to 21st-century crises.

Commenting on the anniversary, Eamonn Butler, Director of the Adam Smith Institute, said: 

“Though The Wealth of Nations was published 250 years ago, it still stands as the cornerstone of modern economics, explaining how specialisation, competition, and trade create an abundance far beyond what centralised planning could ever achieve.”

“With today’s challenges, from trade disputes to AI-driven productivity, Smith’s insights show why resisting monopolies and trade barriers creates opportunity and prosperity for all.” 

“This milestone anniversary is a time for policymakers, businesses, and citizens alike to rediscover Smith’s vision of natural liberty as a blueprint for addressing our problems today.”

Commenting on the anniversary, Joanna Marchong, Head of Communications & External Affairs at the Adam Smith Institute, said:

“Though The Wealth of Nations was published 250 years ago, the lessons it details for the economy are more important than ever today.

“Productivity under Labour has flatlined, youth unemployment has skyrocketed, the benefits bill is ballooning, businesses are struggling, and innovation is down. This is all because Labour has ignored the fundamental principles set out by Adam Smith centuries ago.

“Reeves would do well to receive her own kind of Scottish enlightenment if she ever wants to get the UK economy back on track, the ASI would be more than happy to send her a copy of The Wealth of Nations.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Dr Eamonn Butler is Director of the Adam Smith Institute, rated one of the world’s leading policy think-tanks. He has degrees in economics, philosophy and psychology, gaining a PhD from the University of St Andrews in 1978.

During the 1970s he worked on pensions and welfare issues for the US House of Representatives, and taught philosophy in Hillsdale College, Michigan, before returning to the UK to help found the Adam Smith Institute.

Eamonn is author of books on the pioneering economists Milton Friedman, F A Hayek, Ludwig von Mises and Adam Smith, and co-author of Forty Centuries of Wage and Price Controls and books on intelligence testing.

The Adam Smith Institute (ASI) has recently released its Growth Agenda, which sets out how we can use free-market economics to transform Britains economy today.

Previews of the Condensed Wealth of Nations Graphic Novel can be accessed here.

For any further details, or to arrange an interview, please contact press@adamsmith.org / +44 7985 540467

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The Adam Smith Institute is one of the world’s leading think tanks. It is ranked first in the world among independent think tanks and as the best domestic and international economic policy think tank in the UK by the University of Pennsylvania. Independent, non-profit and non-partisan, the Institute is at the forefront of making the case for free markets and a free society, through education, research, publishing, and media outreach.