Published in 2004, Friedrich List is a valuable contribution to the field of History. This study is based upon the material included in Friedrich List's collected works (cited as Werke) and upon the documents preserved in the List archives in Reutlingen. The most important biographies of List are those by Ludwig Hausser, Friedrich Lenz, Carl August Meissinger, Carl Brinkmann, and Hans Gehrig. List's early career has been examined by Karl Goeser and Paul Gehring, his services to the Union of Merchants by Hans-Peter Olshausen, his work as a journalist by Carl Schneider, and his activities in the United States by William Notz.

Friedrich List (1789-1846) was a prophet of social market economy, national economy and the infant-industry theory. In this comprehensive biography the international influence and reception of List’s theories is presented together with his extraordinary vita. List was a notable early advocate of economic integration of the many separate states of 19th century Germany. His basic theory is that of productive resources and the need to protect infant industries until they have matured enough to stand alone. He is recognized as a visionary economist with social responsibility and as an influential railway pioneer. He was a liberal and a democrat who promoted an extended representative democracy, including respect for human rights and civil liberties, to accompany industrial development. His highly influential main work “The National System of Political Economy” has been translated into many languages. Eugen Wendler, the renowned author and List expert, not only builds upon his many years of research, but also discusses several new sources. This richly illustrated book is as informative as it is well written.

This book offers a comprehensive assessment of Friedrich List's economic and political thinking. It starts with a systematic positioning of List`s economic theory as well as a differentiation from other economic systems. Furthermore, it examines the ethical sources of List`s theory, as well as List`s geopolitical, technical and economic visions. The author also introduces List as the pre-thinker of social market economy and discusses his ideas on European integration, development politics and List’s assessment of the main problems of the modern world economy. The book will appeal to scholars and students of the history of economic thought and economic history, as well as anyone interested in the life and work of the German economist Friedrich List (1789-1846).

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

As the world grapples with increased globalization and technological change, Friedrich List’s work appears more relevant than ever before. His theory of "productive powers" and his argument for protecting infant industries give us a valuable way of looking at innovation systems, winners and losers in international trade, and the current shift towards economic and political nationalism. Comprising fifteen specially commissioned chapters from a range of international scholars, this book explores many aspects of List’s economic thought, including industrial development, political economy, the economics of education, infrastructure and catching-up processes in Asian economies. This volume will be illuminating reading for advanced students and researchers in the history of economic thought, economic history, economic policy and international trade.

In The National System of Political Economy, List provides a critique of the ideas of Adam Smith and David Ricardo that continues to resonate with policy makers concerned with industrial policy and national economic development. List argues that in contrast with the stylized view of classical economics, real-world economies are organized along national lines and that policy makers can ignore this reality to their peril. The benefits from trade are conditional, rather than universal and the development of sophisticated industry requires carefully designed and sequentially planned state interventions. List provides an early recognition of the existence of distinct stages of economic development, and of the interplay between military power, industrial development and national prosperity. List's work had a formative influence on contemporary strands of thought such as institutional economics and 'national systems of innovation' perspectives and is considered an exemplary of work in the tradition of realist international political economy.