Adam Smith and Yan Fu: Western Economics in Chinese Perspective

This book explores how Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations was introduced to China in the early 20th century and examines how Yan Fu (1854-1921) interpreted it as a guide for China's wealth and power. It assesses the relevance of Smith's economic ideas in a dynamic socio-economic context and reevaluates Yan Fu's economic ideas through a modern economics lens.

Format: Hardback
Length: 93 pages
Publication date: 02 December 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book delves into a comprehensive examination of the introduction of Adam Smith's renowned work, The Wealth of Nations (1776), into China at the dawn of the twentieth century. Within a dynamic socio-economic framework, Yan Fu (1854-1921) envisioned The Wealth of Nations as a guiding prescription for China's pursuit of wealth and power. This insightful work seeks to answer the pivotal question of whether The Wealth of Nations, a book that championed laissez-faire, free trade, and minimal governance, holds relevance for China, considering its distinct economic conditions and philosophical frameworks compared to the West. Furthermore, it undertakes a re-evaluation of Yan Fu's economic ideas through a contemporary economics lens, shedding light on their enduring significance and potential applications in the modern world.

The introduction of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations into China at the turn of the twentieth century is the focal point of this book. Within a dynamic socio-economic context, Yan Fu (1854-1921) saw The Wealth of Nations as a blueprint for China's economic prosperity and power. The central question addressed by this work is whether The Wealth of Nations, a book that advocates laissez-faire, free trade, and minimal governance, remains applicable to China, considering its distinct economic conditions and philosophical frameworks compared to the West. Furthermore, it undertakes a re-examination of Yan Fu's economic ideas through a contemporary economics lens, shedding light on their enduring significance and potential applications in the modern world.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811965722
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022