9An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) is the famous classic work of the Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790). This book describes what builds nations' wealth and is today a fundamental work in classical economics and touches upon such broad topics as the division of labor, productivity, and free markets. This edition includes Preface and Introductory Essay by English economist Joseph Shield Nicholson (1850-1927).