One of the most prominent, visible throughout a wide variety of contemporary sources, and geographically widespread phenomena in the eighteenth century was the rise of societies aimed at improving the economic basis of European nations. The Rise of Economic Societies in the Eighteenth Century is the first book to explore the emergence of economic societies in the British Isles and their development into a European, American and global reform movement in the eighteenth century. Its fourteen contributions demonstrate the intellectual horizons and international networks of this widespread and influential phenomenon, highlighting also the variety of local political roles and practical activities among the most prominent societies, ranging from Scotland to Switzerland and Russia to the United States of America.

This collection of essays explores the emergence of economic societies in the British Isles and their development into a European, American and global reform movement in the eighteenth century. Its fourteen contributions demonstrate the intellectual horizons and international networks of this widespread and influential phenomenon.