“An Essay on Economic Theory,” a new translation of Richard Cantillon’s “Essai sur la nature du commerce en général” is hot off the press! The text was actually written in the early 1700s and first published in 1755. Mark Thornton, of the Mises Institute, and I worked on a new translation of the book. It was a long, arduous process but we did it. The book is now available from the Mises Institute.
Here is part of the description for this new publication:
“At last, and finally, here is the first accurate and beautiful translation of Richard Cantillon’s 1755 masterpiece on economics. This treatise is widely credited with being the first to describe the market process as one driven by entrepreneurship. William Stanley Jevons, in the first blush of discovery, proclaimed Cantillon’s Essai, “the cradle of political economy.”
(…)
“Mark Thornton and Chantal Saucier have accomplished the arduous task of bringing forth a new and improved translation of Cantillon’s famous work. Heretofore the only English translation of the Essai available has been the 1931 edition produced by Henry Higgs for the Royal Economic Society. Though competent, it has become less serviceable over time, as more and more of its shortcomings devolved (not the least of which is the antiquated use of “undertaker” in place of “entrepreneur”).
“Saucier provides a more accurate and lucid account, better suited to the 21st century. Thornton’s hand shows not only in competent guidance of the translator but in the inclusion of numerous explanatory footnotes that add historical context.”
It is probably fair to say that Cantillon was also the “the father of enterprise economics.” As Realtors, we are all entrepreneurs and as such, it is important that we understand these principles. This book is a great place to start!
