Books

London, John Murray, 1820. . First edition; 8vo; small ownership stamp to lower outside corner of title-page, small, early 20th century bookseller's label to lower outside corner of verso of upper free endpaper, a little age-toning and small ink smudge to title, otherwise near-fine, nineteenth century half calf over marbled boards, rubbed at extremities, spine faded, a very good copy; vi, 601 pp. The book was conceived as a series of tracts rather than a comprehensive and systematic treatise, though Malthus published it to establish his own position against that of Ricardo, with whom he had been having an ongoing debate about the nature of labour, demand and profit. 'In his 'Principles of Political Economy', Malthus was proposing investment in public work and private luxury as a means of increasing effective demand and hence as a palliative to economic distress. The nation, he thought, must balance the power to produce and the will to consume' (DSB).'The Principles had only a…

This work by Thomas Robert Malthus discusses the economic theories related to production and distribution of wealth, providing a critique of contemporary economic theories.