Adam Smith and Yan Fu: Western Economics in Chinese Perspective

This book examines at a static level how Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations (1776) was introduced into China at the turn of the twentieth century. In a dynamic socio-economic context, Yan Fu (1854-1921) had The Wealth of Nations in mind as a prescription for China's "Wealth and Power". This book aims answer the question of whether The Wealth of Nations, a book which advocates laissez-faire, free trade, and minimum governance helpful for China with very different economic conditions and modes of thought to the West and goes on to reexamine Yan Fu's economic ideas through a modern economics perspective.

Examines the influence of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations on Yan Fu's economic ideology Highlights the reception of The Wealth of Nations in the Chinese context Provides a Chinese perspective on Western economic philosophies

Autorentext

Cheng-chung Lai is Emeritus Professor at National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan), with three decades of experience in teaching economic history and history of economics thought. His books in English include: Adam Smith across Nations: Translations and Receptions of The Wealth of Nations, Oxford University Press (2000); Braudel s Historiography Reconsidered (2004). He was educated in Taiwan (BA) and Belgium (MA), received his doctorate from École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris.

Inhalt

Overview.- Spread of The Wealth of Nations.- Reception of The Wealth of Nations.- Traduttore Traditore.- Yan Fu's understanding of The Wealth of Nations.- Yan Fu's Economic Ideas.- Epilogue.