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From 1776 to 2026: Adam Smith's lessons for the global economy

  • Reuters reported from London that The Wealth of Nations marks its 250th anniversary on March 9, 2026, with events throughout the year in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Kirkcaldy.
  • Smith's system of natural liberty is built on three pillars: rule of law, individual freedom and robust competition, while The Wealth of Nations argues for division of labour and free trade.
  • Smith targeted monopolies and mercantilist privileges, calling them a 'secret in trade,' and scholars highlight his critique of special interests, as Mehta states.
  • Commentators note parallels with President Trump's trade tactics; Smith accepted narrow tariffs for unfair trade or security, and his ideas on wealth distribution are compared to calls to 'Tax the rich' and U.S. progressives.
  • An academic paper by Mark Skousen frames Smith as prophetic but warns he would be troubled by today's large state and crony capitalism, while the IEA says Smith's principles still deliver growth.
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250 years ago, Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" was published. Smith's much-famous book also shows him as a pioneer of geoeconomics.

·Frankfurt, Germany
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The Straits Times broke the news in Singapore on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
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