An Inquiry into the Permanent Causes of the Decline and Fall of Powerful and Wealthy Nations Part 2

Of the education of youth in nations increasing in wealth.--The errors generally committed by writers on that subject.--Importance of female education on the manners of a people.--Not noticed by writers on political economy.--Education of the great body of the people the chief object.--In what that consists............94

CHAP. III.

Of increased taxation, as an interior cause of decline.--Its different effects on industry, according to the degree to which it is carried.--Its effects on the people and on government.............102

CHAP. IV.

Of the interior causes of decline, arising from the encroachments of public and privileged bodies; and of those who have a common interest on those who have no common interest.....................116

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CHAP. V.

Of the internal causes of decline, arising from the unequal division of property, and its acc.u.mulation in the hands of particular persons.--Its effects on the employment of capital...............125

CHAP. VI.

Of the interior causes of decline, which arise from the produce of the soil becoming unequal to the sustenance of a luxurious people.--Of monopoly............137

CHAP. VII.

Of the increase of the poor, as general affluence becomes greater.-- Of children left unprovided for.--Of their division into two cla.s.ses.-- Those that can labour more or less, and those that can do no labour.................. 156

CHAP. VIII.

Of the tendency of capital and industry to leave a wealthy country, and of the depreciation of money in agricultural and commercial countries............. 161

CHAP. IX.

Conclusion of the interior causes.--Their co-operation.--Their general effect on the government and on the people.--The danger arising from them does not appear till the progress in decline is far advanced......... 166

CHAP. X.

Of the external causes of decline.--The envy and enmity of other nations.--Their efforts, both in peace and war, to bring wealthy nations down to their level........ 175

CHAP. XI.

Why the intercourse between nations is ultimately in favour of the poorer one, though not so at first............................. 179

CHAP. XII.

Conclusion of exterior causes.--Are seldom of much importance, unless favoured by interior ones.--Rich nations, with care, capable, in most cases, of prolonging their prosperity.--Digression on the importance of public revenue, ill.u.s.trated by a statistical chart................... 184

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=BOOK III.=

CHAP. I.

Result of the foregoing Inquiry applied to Britain.--Its present state, in what its wealth consists; ill.u.s.trated by a chart, shewing the increase of revenue and commerce........................191

CHAP. II.

Of education, as conducted in England.--Amelioration proposed.-- Necessity of government interfering, without touching the liberty of the subject............................ 216

CHAP. III.

Of the effects of taxation in England........229

CHAP. IV.

Of the national debt and sinking fund.--Advantages and disadvantages of both.--Errors committed in calculating their effects.

--Causes of error.--Mode proposed for preventing future increase....................234

CHAP. V.

Of taxes for the maintenance of the poor.--Their enormous increase.-- The cause.--Comparison between those of England and Scotland.-- Simple, easy, and humane mode of reducing them..............247

CHAP. VI.

Causes of decline, peculiar to England.................... 257

CHAP. VII.

Circ.u.mstances peculiar to England, and favourable to it............. 261

CHAP. VIII.

Conclusion.................... 276

Application of the present Inquiry to nations in general..............289

_AN

I N Q U I R Y,

&c. &c._

====== BOOK I.