Novedades del último mes en eBooks de Historia de la economía

Jakob Fugger foi o homem mais rico que já existiu. Mas sua maior conquista não foi a fortuna — foi o poder. Na Europa do século XV, um mundo em profunda transição, enquanto reinos se reorganizavam, a

Sinopse Comércio internacional na nova ordem mundial Ele comércio internacional na nova ordem mundial O mundo enfrenta uma profunda transformação marcada pela reorganização do poder econômico global,

In The Wealth of Nations, Book IV: Of Systems of Political Economy, Adam Smith takes aim at the reigning economic ideologies of his timemercantilism and agricultural absolutismand delivers one of the most powerful manifestos for economic freedom ever written. With sharp wit and relentless logic, he exposes how mercantilist policiesprohibitions, bounties, tariffs, monopolies, and colonial systemsserved narrow merchant interests while burdening the public with higher prices, waste, and endless wars. He then turns to the agricultural systems, particularly the French Physiocrats, recognizing their insights but critiquing their narrow focus on land as the sole source of wealth. Against both doctrines, Smith advances his enduring principle of natural liberty, in which individuals, left free to pursue their own interests, direct labor and capital to their most productive uses, thereby enriching the entire nation. This book is not merely a critique; it is a bold vision of a world beyond restrictive systems, a call for free trade, competition, and prosperity that still resonates in every debate on globalization today.

In The Wealth of Nations, Book III: Of the Different Progress of Opulence in Different Nations, Adam Smith blends economics with history to explain why some societies grow wealthy faster than others. He contrasts the "natural order" of developmentwhere agriculture comes first, then industry, and finally tradewith the historical reality of Europe, where commerce and towns often advanced before the countryside. With sharp insight, Smith shows how feudalism held agriculture back, how urban privileges both distorted and stimulated growth, and how commerce eventually spread prosperity, order, and good government throughout Europe. This book is not only an economic treatise but also a story of human institutions: how freedom in towns challenged feudal lords, how merchants turned capital into land improvements, and how trade became a civilizing force. For readers who want to understand the deep roots of modern prosperity and the historical forces that shaped Europes rise, this book offers both wisdom and narrative power.

In The Wealth of Nations, Book II: Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock, Adam Smith pulls back the curtain on the lifeblood of every economy: capital. He reveals how savings, investment, and the wise use of stock fuel prosperity, while waste and extravagance drain it. Through clear distinctions between fixed and circulating capital, productive and unproductive labor, and the different employments of stockfrom agriculture and industry to trade and foreign commerceSmith builds a vision of how nations either thrive or stagnate. This book is not a dry theory; it is a story of choiceshow merchants, farmers, landlords, and governments decide to use wealth, and how those decisions ripple through entire societies. By understanding Smiths insights, readers can see the hidden engines of growth, the dangers of reckless credit, and why some investments enrich nations while others impoverish them. For anyone who wants to grasp the roots of economic power, this book is a masterclass in the timeless laws of prosperity.

In The Wealth of Nations, Book V: Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth, Adam Smith brings his masterwork to a powerful conclusion by turning to the most enduring question of political economy: what is the proper role of government? Here he analyzes the legitimate expenses of the statedefense, justice, public works, and educationbefore turning to the sources of public revenue and the principles of fair taxation. With his famous "four maxims of taxation" still cited by economists and policymakers today, Smith shows how governments can raise funds without crushing liberty or prosperity. Finally, in a prophetic warning, he examines the rise of public debt, describing how constant borrowing to fund wars risks weakening nations and burdening future generations. Book V is both practical and visionary: a blueprint for responsible governance that balances freedom with necessity, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of fiscal irresponsibility. For readers who want to understand not only markets but also the responsibilities of the state, this book is a timeless guide.