Definitions of Economics by Adam Smith and Alfred Marshall When it comes to economics, there are various definitions as mentioned below: Science of wealth Science of material well being Science of choice making and Science of dynamic growth and development Science of wealth: Some earlier economists defined economics as detailed below: According to the classical economists, economics has been defined as the science of wealth. Adam Smith was known as the father modern economics and according to him the economics was defined as detailed below: “An enquiry into the nature and causes of wealth of nations”.
According to J B Say, economics was defined as: “Science which deals with wealth”. According to the definitions as pronounced by Adam Smith and J B Say, the main focus of study for economics has been defined as “accumulation of wealth” or “science of wealth”. The following are the merits of the definition pertaining to science of wealth: 1. It focuses on important aspects of economics like production, distribution etc. , 2. It highlighted an important problem faced by each and every nation of the wealth, namely creation of wealth and 3. The problem of poverty and unemployment can e solved if wealth is produced and distributed equitably.
The following are the demerits with regard to the definition pertaining to science of wealth: It concentrates only on material wealth and ignores creation of immaterial wealth like services of doctors, chartered accountants etc. , It also ignores social welfare Science of material well-being: Under this group of definitions, the emphasis is on welfare as compared with wealth in the matter of group. Alfred Marshall, the neo-classicist raised economics from its ignoble position to a noble one and it was he who shifted the emphasis from wealth o welfare.
Economics was defined as follows according to him: “Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life and it examines that part of individual and social action which is most closely connected with the attainment and with the use of the material requisites of well-being. Thus, it is on the one side a study of wealth and on the other and more important side, a part to the study to man”. It can be seen that economics has been defined as a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life. Ordinary business of life means those activities which occupy considerable part of human effort.
The fulfillment of economic needs is a very important business which every man ordinarily does. According to Professor Marshall, economics has been understood as the study of wealth; however, it is also the study of man, his desires and necessities. The following are the demerits in defining economics as the science of material well- being: It ignores things like services of singers, teachers, actors etc. , It is very difficult to state that which things would lead to welfare and which will not. Reference: http://classify . Com/homework-help/economics-homework-help
