In 1776, Adam Smith's *The Wealth of Nations* launched the field of economics. Among its earliest readers was Maria Edgeworth, a prominent Regency-era novelist who wove economic concepts like rent-seeking and productive labor into her stories. Her works were influential, exposing generations to Smith's theories, yet her name rarely appears in economic history.
Jeanna Smialek, Brussels bureau chief at The New York Times, argues Edgeworth deserves recognition in economics' pantheon. In her biography *The Invisible Hand of Maria Edgeworth*, Smialek explores Edgeworth's debates with Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo, how the Irish potato famine reshaped thought, and her use of novels to educate the public on economics' value.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing