Wordly economists

8 important questions on Wordly economists

Classical economics emphasizes Adam Smith's division of labour.

  • Explain the division of labour:

  • The division of labour is the separation of tasks in any economic system or organization so that participants may specialize (specialization).

David Ricardo (1772-1823)

One of the most influential classical economists along with Adam Smith and James Mill.

He was nicknamed the man who educated the commons.

Ricardo took the idea of absolute advantage a step further:

- Comparative advantage based on relative acts.

  • What is comparative advantage?

  • Comparative advantage is an economy's ability to produce a particular good or service at lower opportunity costs than its trading partners.


- A comparative advantage gives a company the ability to sell goods and services at a lower price than its competitors and realize strong sales margins.

Labour theory of value

Best known advocates: Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and Karl Marx. 

  • Define the Labour Theory of Value:

  • A good's value is determined by the material it is made from + the hours of labour put in producing it.
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Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Associated with communist regimes (Soviet Union, China) but Marx himself was not a government appointee.

Marx analyzed that capitalism was not evenly beneficial. Workers are marginalized by capital, they can only sell their labour.

Marx founded communism.

  • What is communism in essence?

  • The equally shared possession of all "means of production".


- Inequality, harsh working conditions, child labour, low salary.

- Class struggle > there will be a worker's revolution.

Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) was an American economist and sociologist who, during his lifetime, emerged as a well-known critic of capitalism.

He developed the institutional approach.

  • What is institutional economics?

  • Institutional economics focuses on understanding the rode of the evolutionary process and the role of institutions in shaping economic behaviour.

  • What is the Veblen critique on capitalism?

  • That the motivation in capitalism for people to conspicuously consume their riches as a demonstration of their success.

  • What is a Veblen good?

  • Expensive champagne.


Veblen goods are considered desirable consumer products for conspicuous consumption because of, rather than in spite of, their high prices.

Joseph Schumpeter (1183-1950)

Capitalism is dynamic and moves upwards.

Creative destruction is collateral damage in economic progress.

  • Provide an example of creative destruction:

  • Landline telephone is declining because we all have cell phones.


Entrepreneurs are the drivers of progress.

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