Winner of the 2011 David and Elaine Spitz Prize, International Conference for the Study of Political Thought "This is an important, sound analysis of the interrelation between political and economic theory in the century after Adam Smith... This book exemplifies the best contemporary work on the nexus of political and economic theory."--Choice "Milgate and Stimson produce a very careful and detailed analysis of early economists' ideas on issues shaping the modern concept of the political order, in the process displaying a rich array of competing ideas... [T]his book provides a striking perspective on classical political economy. The reader will benefit from some prior familiarity with Smith, Malthus, Ricardo and J. S. Mill, along with the Utilitarians."--Donald Frey, EH.net (Economic History Association) "In the last decade, scholars have moved away from the interpretation of Smith as a simple economic determinist who espoused lasissez-faire economics, and Milgate and Simpson have advanced their undertaking immensely with this book."--Donald Stabile, Australian Economic History Review "Milgate and Stimson have undertaken ... enormous scholarship in writing their book. Scholars and students of the history of economic ideas, as well as of the history of political economy and political thought in nineteenth-century Europe can benefit enormously from this book."--Farhad Rassekh, History of Economic Ideas