自由贸易神话的起源——亚当·斯密真相辨伪

Rise of Free Trade Doctrine and the Myth of Adam Smith

亚当.斯密已被崇奉为“现代经济学之父”,自由贸易学说也据信由斯密“首先提出”,但广为流行的这些常识并非历史真相。有足够证据表明,斯密经济学的主要内容早由其前人阐述,自由贸易学说亦非斯密的理论创新。不是自由贸易学说推动了英国的产业革命,倒是英国产业竞争优势的确立将自由贸易学说推上了主流意识形态的地位。现实利益驱动下的意识形态化让斯密经济学难逃狭隘化、教条化、为尊者讳、党同伐异之类的通行弊病。

Although Adam Smith has been widely acclaimed as the “father of modern economics” and the “first proponent” of free trade principles,an unbiased survey into history reveals that these beliefs are not supported by facts.Enough evidence proves that the key components of Smith's theory were well known even to his predecessors,and indeed,it was only after Britain attained its industrial supremacy that Smith's theory,and his free trade arguments in particular,became canonized.The triumph of free trade doctrine and the anointment of Adam Smith,while serving well the British national interests,have cost dearly to academic integrity and intellectual vitality.