pt. 1. The invention of economic growth -- pt. 2. The Scottish tradition from Hume to Smith -- pt. 3. Accumulation and growth : Turgot and Smith -- pt. 4. Growth, saving and distribution -- pt. 5. Epilogue : John Rae and technical change.

Despite their differences on other questions, Hume and Steuart had almost identical theories of long-run economic development. In their story, agriculture can produce a surplus of food to support urban manufacturing (and other things), but will not do so unless farmers want to trade the surplus...

This is a unique and detailed book which surveys the diffusion and reception of Alfred Marshall’s ideas and the ways they have influenced the development of economic science up to the present day.