Money, Prices, Wages, Profits and Rent in Classical Political Economy: A Comparative Study

Abstract This article examines and defines the core economic concepts of money, prices, wages, profits, and rent within the framework of classical political economy. Focusing on the works of Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, Jean-Baptiste Say, David Ricardo, and John Stuart Mill, the study draws on their major intellectual contributions to clarify how these fundamental concepts were formulated and understood. Employing a systematic and comparative approach, the article analyzes and synthesizes each concept in order to identify both areas of agreement and points of theoretical divergence among classical economists. The primary aim of the study is to bring together and clarify classical economists’ definitions of core economic concepts, thereby contributing to a more coherent understanding of classical political economy.