Classical political economy

origin of this school in the 17th century due to the fact that the first official economic theory - mercantilism - out of date and could no longer continue to address problems facing the economy at that time.Classical political economy, which is universally recognized as the ancestor of W. Petty, held at certain stages of its formation, which would like to talk more.

first phase - the end of the 17th century and early 18th, when William Petty in England and Pierre Boisguillebert in France began to develop a new position for the time with regards to economic issues, which soon evolved into such a thought as classical school of political economy.

should be noted that in the classical school in the middle of the 18th century, has developed an interesting trend as physiocracy, which is considered the founder of Francois Quesnay.Representatives of this movement at the forefront put agriculture, believing that it is really only creates a product.And, for example, the same blacksmiths simply convert existing materials, so their work is not so essential.

second stage is completely connected with the distinguished economist Adam Smith, whose work, "The Wealth of Nations" (1776) is still a matter of great interest of science.His famous "invisible hand of the market" has been recognized as an outstanding idea that time and a long time recognized only correct one.The bottom line is that there are certain objective laws that contribute to the fact that any search for the benefit of a specific person still lead to the benefit of the whole society.In turn, the market is a mechanism that balances between the interests of buyers and sellers.

third stage (almost the entire first half of the 19th century), marked the transition, especially in England, to automated manufacturing, which contributed to the implementation of the industrial revolution.Classical political economy at that stage was developed by David Ricardo, T. Malthus, JBSeem.

In the final, fourth stage, which took the whole second half of the 19th century, Karl Marx, first of all, compiles the best works submitted for all the time, there is the classical school of political economy.

should be said that this school is often called a little differently - bourgeois political economy.The fact that it was with her and received its development of classical political economy, as representatives have focused on protecting the interests of the bourgeoisie.The offers on the laissez-faire classical opposed mercantilist ideas that were widely used for protectionist policies.

Classical political economy - this is truly a fundamental study of many economic processes on the basis of not only the arguments and assumptions and theoretical research.Thus the classic mercantilist contrasted with empiricism.

Classical political economy is characterized by the following factors:

  1. It is based on the labor theory of value.The classics say that any product evaluated in terms of how much effort has been expended on its production.
  2. minimal state should intervene in the economy.
  3. look classics confined to the sphere of production, while the sphere of circulation goes by the wayside.
  4. introduced the category of "economic man", that is considered just what everyone wants to get the benefit, but neglected the moral and ethical foundations.
  5. Money paid not much attention, most of their features are simply not considered.Money - it is only with the help of which you can exchange the goods.
  6. allocates dependence: the more wages, the greater the increase in employees, and vice versa.

Thus, classical political economy - the doctrine, which replaced mercantilism, which as a result of certain factors (the development of commodity-money relations, the completion of the primitive accumulation of capital, etc.) are not kept pace with the economic progress of society at that time.However, for both the current science are an incredible value and with interest studied not only by economists.