Adam Smith's Economic Theory (Term Paper Sample)

Adam Smith's economic theory
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The book "The Wealth of Nations," authored by Adam Smith, is among the most relevant books to ever be written in the history of economics. Surprisingly, despite the fact that it is one of the oldest books, as it was published in 1776, the text lays a firm foundation for not just the economics of yesteryear but even the contemporary ones. The books brought to light a new form of thinking regarding wealth, wealth creation, and prosperity for both individuals and the nation as a whole (Smith, 1776). In this form of new thinking, Smith emphasizes the significance of production, on the one hand, and trade, on the other, rather than a mere accumulation of gold and silver reserves. As such, an examination of the relevance of Adam Smith's economic theory based on how human selfishness drives social progress and the foundation of the relationship between government and the market in today's world will be the focus of the paper.
Human selfishness drives social progress
Adam Smith thought that humans were inherently selfish and driven by self-interest. He claimed that individuals following their own interests will eventually produce wealth and prosperity for everybody, and that this self-interest may be harnessed for the greater good of society. Today, we can see how self-interest drives social progress in a variety of contexts (Evensky, 2015). Individuals and businesses trying to benefit from their ideas, for example, are frequently driving the creation of new technologies and inventions. Self-interest has resulted in the development of several goods and services that have altered the way we live and work, ranging from cellphones to electric automobiles (Ucak, 2015).
Examples of how self-interest drives social progress today
Furthermore, self-interest drives social progress in the realm of philanthropy. Many affluent people contribute enormous quantities of money to charity organizations nowadays, motivated in part by a desire to leave a positive legacy and improve their reputation. While this may appear self-serving, it has the potential to have a significant impact on society by funding critical research, social programs, and infrastructure projects that benefit the public (Evensky, 2015).
Entrepreneurship is a further illustration of how self-interest drives societal progress today. The desire to launch and grow their own businesses drives entrepreneurs, and doing so frequently necessitates creating innovative goods or services that meet market demands. Entrepreneurs may generate jobs, boost economic growth, and drive innovation by pursuing their own self-interest. As a result, society benefits.
Additionally, people looking to make money by sharing their resources with others are what are driving the growth of the sharing economy, with businesses like Airbnb and Uber. This has opened up new avenues for individuals to generate money while also making travel and transportation more accessible and inexpensive. Similarly, people's yearning to connect with others and share their opinions and experiences has spurred the expansion of social media. This has opened up new avenues for communication while also facilitating the exchange of ideas and information (Ucak, 2015).
The struggle between corporations is another illustration of how self-interest drives societal development nowadays. Businesses in a free-market economy must compete with one another to acquire consumers and earn profits. This competition encourages firms to develop and enhance their goods and services in order to benefit society. For example, smartphone manufacturers' competitiveness has resulted in the creation of more sophisticated and cheap gadgets that have altered the way people interact, work, and access information (Evensky, 2015).
Finally, self-interest may be a driving force in environmental sustainability development. As knowledge of the negative effects of