This text sets out to describe the emergence of economics in the period of Japanese Enlightenment, or the first two decades of the Meiji era. At this time, there was general agreement for the need to modernize the country by abolishing all remaining feudalism, and opening up to Western economic thought. The author examines the main characteristics of economic thought at this time, in particular, the predominance of nationalism among both proponents of protectionism and free-trade.

This text examines the work of the 8th Earl of Lauderdale, James Maitland, and his contribution to economic thought. The study concentrates on the publication of "Lauderdale's Notes on Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations". It is reproduced from the hand-written notes and marginalia which appear in Lauderdale's own edition of the "Wealth of Nations" which in now housed in the Tokyo Keizai University Library. The notes are reproduced here along with the relevant passages from "The Wealth of Nations" to which they refer.

First Published in 1995. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

By throwing light on economic thought in the period of the Japanese Enlightenment, this book will make clear what led to the institutionalization of business and economic education, the birth of the pioneer business enterprise and of serious economic journalism and the reasons behind the success of Japanese economic development.

Adam Smith (1723-90) is well known as the author of The Wealth of Nations and as a champion of free enterprise but he also wrote on moral philosophy and lectured on rhetoric and jurisprudence. This collection reveals a new portrait of the well known economist, not as a simple-minded champion of free trade but as an interdisciplinary social scientist with a moral philosophy for the modern world. His legacy should not be restricted to economics and to the English-speaking world.

Adam Smith (1723-90) is well known as the author of The Wealth of Nations and as a champion of free enterprise but he also wrote on moral philosophy and lectured on rhetoric and jurisprudence. This collection reveals a new portrait of the well known economist, not as a simple-minded champion of free trade but as an interdisciplinary social scientist with a moral philosophy for the modern world. His legacy should not be restricted to economics and to the English-speaking world.