Essay on the Nature of Commerce in General book cover

Essay on the Nature of Commerce in General

Richard Cantillon · English text · 53,585 words

Richard Cantillon describes how land, labor, markets, money, and uncertainty interact to shape commercial life.

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Background

Written in the 18th century and published after Cantillon’s death, the essay is an early systematic account of economic organization and entrepreneurial risk.

Reading notes

  • Follow the circulation of goods between producers and consumers.
  • Notice how uncertainty enters decisions about production and trade.
  • Compare the essay’s model of markets with its examples.