On the Origins of Classical Economics

On the Origins of Classical Economics deals with the origin and early development of the classical theory of distribution up to 1767, stressing the concept of economic 'surplus' as a key determinant of economic phenomena. It considers the work of Sir William Petty and shows the transmission of ideas from Petty to the Classical School through such writers as Cantillon, Quesnay and Steuart. The work is designed to meet the need for an understanding of the central elements of the history of the classical tradition.