Apostles of Inequality: Rural Poverty, Political Economy, and the Economist, 1760-1860

Between 1760 and 1860, attempts at agricultural improvement in rural England deprived cottagers and rural workers of access to land, leading to a century of increasing impoverishment. Jim Handy rejects the assertions about the benefits of the transition to improved agriculture, detailing the evidence for the efficiency of smallholder, peasant agriculture. He traces the development of economic theory and government policy through the work of Arthur Young, Nassau William Senior, and the editors and writers of the Economist, as well as Adam Smith and Thomas Robert Malthus.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2022
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Between 1760 and 1860, the English countryside experienced a relentless pursuit of agricultural improvement, often at the expense of cottagers and rural workers. Despite overwhelming evidence showcasing their remarkable productivity as farmers in a nation plagued by food scarcity, these individuals were frequently denied access to the land they cultivated. This phenomenon, driven by a misplaced belief in the transformative power of capital, resulted in a century of escalating rural impoverishment in England.

In his book, "Apostles of Inequality," Jim Handy challenges the prevailing narratives regarding the purported benefits of the transition to improved agriculture. He presents a wealth of evidence highlighting the efficiency and sustainability of smallholder, peasant agriculture. Handy traces the evolution of economic theory and government policy through the influential works of agricultural improver Arthur Young (1741–1820), government advisor Nassau William Senior (1790–1864), the editors and writers of the Economist, as well as renowned economists Adam Smith and Thomas Robert Malthus.

Through his comprehensive analysis, Handy demonstrates how a fascination with capital, fueled by political economy and the desire of farmers to maintain a labor force wholly reliant on wage labor, fostered widespread destitution in rural England for over a century. This misguided pursuit of capital accumulation led to the marginalization of small farmers, the erosion of traditional land rights, and the consolidation of wealth in the hands of a select few. The book serves as a poignant reminder of the unintended consequences of economic policies and the urgent need to prioritize equitable distribution of resources in order to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all members of society.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 235 x 159 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487563530