In this groundbreaking work, economist Henry Charles Carey investigates the causes of wealth inequality and economic underdevelopment in the 19th century. He argues that a flawed understanding of economic principles is responsible for these issues, and proposes a set of guidelines for a new, more equitable system of political economy. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of economic thought and the origins of modern economic theory. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.