Economic Philosophers
Philosophy Written Works Accomplishment
John Stuart Mill 

British 

1806-1873

government should work for the well-being of all "The System of Logic" 

"Principles of Political Economy"

promoted female emancipation 
Jeremy Bentham 

English 

1748-1832

theory of utilitarianism 

every act of society should be judged in terms of its usefulness 

"Fragment on Government" 

"Principles of Morals and Legislation"

utilitarianism 

only that is useful is valueable

Adam Smith 

Scottish 

1723-1790 

except for limited functions(defense justice, certain public works) the state should refrain from interfering with the ecomomic life of a nations supply & demand and competition regulate the economy "Wealth of Nations" called the father of modern economics & 

laisse faire capitalism

Robert Owen 

Welsh 

1771-1858 

human character would be greatly improved in a cooperative society rather than in the traditional family "New Views on Society" Utopian Socialism 

New Lanark textile mills Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thomas Malthus 

English 

1766-1834

population increase posed the greatest threat to human progress "An Essay on the Principle of Population" ideas used to develop concept of supply and demand or market economy
Karl Marx 

German 

1818-1883 

society passes through stages based on property ownership and classes 

Stages of the class struggle in history 

TRIBES Shared Work Shared Property 

SLAVERY Slaveowners;Slaves 

FEUDALISM Landowners;serfs 

CAPITALISM Capitalists;Proletariat 

COMMUNISM Classless Society 

---"From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

"Dialectical Materialism" 

"Communist Manifesto" 

"Das Kapital" 

written with Engles

father of Marxism/ 

Communism/Socialsim 

based on his theories 

social democracy 

scientific socialism 

(all similar theories just different names)

David Ricardo 

British 

1772-1823

combined ideas of Smith and Malthus believed that supply and demand determined wages "Principles of Political Economy and Taxation" impacted Karl Marx