Book 2, Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

There are 3 divisions of the people within a society. Smith put these in as conclusions of Book 1, but they are mentioned here because there was not room to fit them into the previous summary chapter. Each of these three types of people has a direct relationship to the interests of the society. However, the way they relate to those interests are strongly influenced by which category of the three they are in. The first group are the independently wealthy people. These people have the means to be able to provide investment capital and to perform works by moving their money around on a rather grand scale. The common good is best served when such people are of good character. Under such conditions they give wisely and are also philanthropic in their practices. The second group are the wage earners...