Douglas Carswell's Blog

Who has read Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations?

I’ve just tabled a Parliamentary question asking if the Chancellor, or any of this Treasury team, have read Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations.

When I submitted the question, the very helpful table office clerk said my question would only be in order if the book I was asking about was relevant to the job of a Treasury minister.  I said I thought it was possibly the most relevant book for someone in the Treasury.

Smith's book has been around since 1776, so one ought to have found the time to read it.  Plus it has lots of useful tips on what ruling elites can do – or rather should desist from doing – in order to allow prosperity to be produced.

It contains what you might call a growth strategy, should you be needing one.

I was prompted to ask the government because I heard that Uganda’s President Museveni recently suggested his ministers ought to read it.  I also hear that Chinese officials can be heard referring to Smith’s masterpiece.

Perhaps if our ministers learn from Smith's book, then we too might enjoy faster GDP growth?  I'll let you know what response I get.

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