Modern economics has, at its foundation, scholarly contributions from many prominent Scottish thinkers. This revealing work examines the roots of this great tradition, places in perspective a selection of authors, and assesses their contribution over three centuries in the light of a distinctive...

1. Introduction -- 2. A discussion of the concepts and terminology -- 3. Ideas about the formation and functioning of society -- 4. The concept of household economy -- 5. Regulation -- 6. Economic thinking at the end of the classical system -- 7. Real economic application -- 8. Conclusion.