Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations Episode 9: Spending, Taxing, and Debt

Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations Episode 9: Spending, Taxing, and Debt

January 27, 2026 · 1h 29m · Season 3 · Episode 24

About this episode

The episode discusses the funding and structure of state functions as outlined in Book Five of The Wealth of Nations.

Send us Fan Mail We walk through Book Five of The Wealth of Nations to map a state that defends, adjudicates, and builds wisely, then pays for it without killing growth. From militias to standing armies, fee-based courts to salaried judges, turnpikes to basic schooling, and taxes to debt, we test what holds up now. • defense as a professional, civilian-controlled standing army • justice as predictable law and salaried judges • public works funded by user fees where feasible • education to of...

People in this episode

Host: Michael Munger

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Wealth of Nations

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