The Harmony of Interests is a major 1851 book by American economist Henry Charles Carey that lays out the foundational theories of the American School of economics. [1]
Core Ideas • Interdependence: Agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce are not naturally opposed; they support and grow each other. [1, 2] • Rejection of Ricardo: Carey rejected classical British economists (like David Ricardo and Thomas Malthus) who claimed that social classes and economic sectors naturally conflict. [1] • Protectionism: He advocated for government intervention, high protective tariffs, and national infrastructure to foster self-sufficiency and protect domestic workers. [3, 4, 5]
If you're exploring 19th-century economic history, would you like to discuss: * How Carey's ideas influenced Abraham Lincoln's administration? * A comparison between the American System and the British free trade system?