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Speaking of Smith Archives

What Adam Smith Ate: An Assize of Bread

Renee Wilmeth for AdamSmithWorks

"We are familiar with [Adam Smith's] ideas about wheat, the potato and corn. But readers may be less familiar with the idea of  'assizes' or local regulations on those same loaves."

Avoid Traps with Adam Smith and Gordon Tullock

Jon Murphy for AdamSmithWorks
 
Adam Smith and Gordon Tullock argue for gradual change to protect those trapped by bad regulations but also avoiding those traps in the first place. 

Great Antidote Extras: Scott Bullock on Criminal Justice

Alex Byrne for AdamSmithWorks

Byrne takes two complicated property rights issues (civil asset forfeiture and eminent domain) and explains what she learned and what she still has questions about in her newest Great Antidote Extra. 

AdamSmithWorks Essays: Top Ten

Christy Lynn for AdamSmithWorks

AdamSmithWorks has been posting essays for over three years. Find out about the most popular ideas and authors for our long-form work here. 

Scott Winship on Poverty and Welfare

Scott Winship with Juliette Sellgren


August 11, 2023

Seeing Beauty in Utility with Adam Smith

Philip D. Bunn for AdamSmithWorks

"On reflection, Smith’s claim that utility confers beauty seems powerful and persuasive."

Michelle Blackmon on making Enquiry Concerning Hereafter

Michelle Blackmon for AdamSmithWorks

Blackmon spent hundreds of hours with Adam Smith and David Hume (and the Greek ferryman to the underworld, Charon) in the past few months as she worked on creating an audio version of Duane Kelly's Enquiry Concerning the Hereafter. Here, she shares some brief reflections on the project.  

William Allen on the State of Black America

William B. Allen with Juliette Sellgren


August 4, 2023

Adam Smith Comics: Not From Benevolence

Sally Madden for AdamSmithWorks

Though benevolence and charity are good and necessary things, they are not how most wants can be met. Even beggars must trade. 

The Invisible Threads: Adam Smith and the Global Second-Hand Clothing Trade

Joy Buchanan for AdamSmithWorks

"Even though some parts of this trade run on American good will (Goodwill pun intended), ultimately the people doing the heavy lifting have to make a profit to keep going. Benevolence alone does not get shirts from Arizona to Ghana."

Great Antidote Extras: David Henderson on Economists, Nobels, Obituaries, and More

Brennan Beausir for AdamSmithWorks

Beausir shares his thoughts on David Henderson's most recently visit to the Great Antidote. Check out his post and let us know which of your favorite economists got name dropped. 

Great Antidote Extras: Stephanie Slade on Fusionism

Alex Byrne for AdamSmithWorks

Bryne gives an ear and her thoughts to Stephanie Slade on the Great Antidote. What is fusionism and is it part of the solution to today's many challenges?