----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- 
 
Another example of the old usage of the term is in James Steuart's  
"Principles of Political Oeconomy" (1767).   
 
The passage is in the introduction to the Book I (page 15 in Skinner's  
edition):   
 
"Oeconomy, in general, is the art of providing for all the wants of a  
family, with prudence and frugality."   
 
Then Steuart projected the concept on to the polity:   
 
"What oeconomy is in a family, political oeconomy is in a state."   
 
Keith Tribe argued that Steuart doesn't state the existence of an  
"economy" as a separate sphere or the theoretical object of political  
economy ("Land, Labour and Economic Discourse", pages 80-85) .   
 
Steuart thought that the "political oeconomy" was concerned with the  
proper management of the polity by a statesman "in such a manner as  
naturally to create the reciprocal relations and dependencies between  
them [the inhabitants], so as to make their several interests lead them to  
supply one another with their reciprocal wants" (Principles, page 17).   
 
Hugo Cerqueira 
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais 
 
------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ 
For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]