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Adam Smith's use of multiple references for his pin making example

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  • Jean-Louis Peaucelle

    (UR - Université de La Réunion)

Abstract

At the beginning of The Wealth of Nations Adam Smith describes a pin factory. It is widely accepted that this example comes from Diderot's Encyclopaedia, published in France in the 18 th century. The details in the text together with the conferences previously given in Glasgow clearly show that this one reference cannot be the only source. Three other French publications on pin making may also have been used as references for Adam Smith's text. Phrase by phrase these texts are compared to Smiths to support the assertion that he based his work on four previous French publications. The Wealth of Nations unites and synthesizes these different sources and excerpts those parts that confirm his theory. Smith should have listed his sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Louis Peaucelle, 2006. "Adam Smith's use of multiple references for his pin making example," Post-Print hal-01403682, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01403682
    DOI: 10.1080/09672560601025829
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-01403682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rashid, Salim, 1986. "Adam Smith and the Division of Labour: A Historical View," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 33(3), pages 292-297, August.
    2. Groenewegen, P D, 1977. "Adam Smith and the Division of Labour: A Bicentenary Estimate," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(29), pages 161-174, December.
    3. Salim Rashid, 1998. "The Myth of Adam Smith," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1200.
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    2. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/b0ghejdpldro9c499h4ajc937 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/b0ghejdpldro9c499h4ajc937 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/b0ghejdpldro9c499h4ajc937 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Jean-Louis Peaucelle, 2012. "Rhetoric and logic in Smith's Description of the Division of Labor," Post-Print hal-01402198, HAL.
    6. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/b0ghejdpldro9c499h4ajc937 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/2241 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Daudin, Guillaume, 2010. "Domestic Trade and Market Size in Late-Eighteenth-Century France," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 70(3), pages 716-743, September.
    9. repec:oxf:wpaper:69.2 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Guillaume Daudin, 2010. "Domestic Trade and Market Size in Late 18th century France," Post-Print hal-03587807, HAL.
    11. Chalkley, Martin & Malcomson, James M., 2002. "Cost sharing in health service provision: an empirical assessment of cost savings," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 219-249, May.
    12. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/2241 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Perelman, Michael, 2010. "Adam Smith: Class, labor, and the industrial revolution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 481-496, December.
    14. Michael Best, 2012. "The Obscure Firm in the Wealth of Nations," Chapters, in: Michael Dietrich & Jackie Krafft (ed.), Handbook on the Economics and Theory of the Firm, chapter 2, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    15. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/2241 is not listed on IDEAS

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