While still an assistant professor of political economy at Harvard, J. Laurence Laughlin (who went on to become professor and first head of the Chicago department of political economy) included the following bibliography of works that together would constitute “A Teacher’s Library”. I provide here links to almost every item on the Laughlin List. When I could not find the exact edition that Laughlin referenced, I have taken the liberty of substituting the closest edition I was able to find quickly.
_________________________________
A TEACHER’S LIBRARY,
SELECTED FROM ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND GERMAN AUTHORS.
[By J. Laurence Laughlin, 1887]
General Treatises.
John Stuart Mill’s “Principles of Political Economy.” Abridged, with critical, bibliographical, and explanatory notes, and a sketch of the History of Political Economy, by J. Laurence Laughlin. A textbook for colleges (1884).
Professor Fawcett’s “Manual of Political Economy” (London, sixth edition, 1883) is a brief statement of Mill’s book, with additional matter on the precious metals, slavery, trades-unions, co-operation, local taxation, etc.
Antoine-Élise Cherbuliez’s “Précis de la science économique” (Paris, 1862, [Vol. 1, Vol. 2]) follows the same arrangement as Mill, and is considered the best treatise on economic science in the French language. He is methodical, profound, and clear, and separates pure from applied political economy.
Other excellent books in French are: Courcelle-Seneuil’s “Traité théorique et pratique d’économie politique” (1858), (Paris, second edition, 1867, [Vol. 1, Vol. 2), and a compendium by Henri Baudrillart, “Manuel d’économie politique” (third edition, 1872).
Roscher’s “Principles of Political Economy” [Die Grundlagen der Nationalökonomie (1854 edition); (1897, 22nd edition)] is a good example of the German historical method: its notes are crowded with facts; but the English translation ([Vol. 1, Vol. 2] New York, 1878) is badly done. There is an excellent translation [Vol. 1, Vol. 2] of it into French by Wolowski.
A desirable elementary work, “The Economics of Industry” (London, 1879; second edition, 1881), was prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Marshall.
Professor Jevons wrote a “Primer of Political Economy” (1878), which is a simple, bird’s-eye view of the subject in a very narrow compass.
Important General Works.
Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” (1776). The edition of McCulloch is, perhaps, more serviceable than that of J. E. T. Rogers [Vol. 1, Vol. 2].
Ricardo’s “Principles of Political Economy and Taxation” (1817).
J. S. Mill’s” Principles of Political Economy” (2 vols., 1848, sixth edition, 1865, [7th edition. W. J. Ashley, ed. (1909)]).
Schönberg’s “Handbuch der politischen Oekonomie” (1882) [3rd edition (1890)]. This is a large co-operative treatise by twenty-one writers from the historical school.
Cairnes’s “Leading Principles of Political Economy” (1874); “Logical Method ” (1875), lectures first delivered in Dublin in 1857.
Carey’s ” Social Science ” (1877), in three volumes [Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3]. This has been abridged in one volume by Kate McLean.
F. A. Walker’s “Political Economy” (1883). This author differs from other economists, chiefly on wages and questions of distribution.
Treatises on Special Subjects.
W. T. Thornton’s “On Labor” (1869).
H. George’s “Progress and Poverty” (1879). In connection with this, read F. A. Walker’s “Land and Rent” (1883).
J. Caird’s “Landed Interest” (fourth edition, 1880), treating of English land and the food-supply.
MacLeod’s “Theory and Practice of Banking” (third edition, 1875-1876) [Vol. 1 (4ed, 1883), Vol. 2 (4ed, 1886)]
Goschen’s “Theory of Foreign Exchanges ” (eighth edition, 1875) [10ed, 1879].
A. T. Hadley’s “Railroad Transportation” (1885).
F. W. Taussig’s “History of the Present Tariff” (1886).
W. G. Sumner’s “History of Protection in the United States.” (1883)
Giles B. Stebbins’s “[The American] Protectionist’s Manual.” (1883).
Erastus B. Bigelow’s “The Tariff Question.” [1862]
W. G. Sumner’s “History of American Currency” (1874).
John Jay Knox’s “United States Notes” ([2ed] 1884).
Jevons’s “Money and the Mechanism of Exchange” (1875).
J. L. Laughlin’s “History of Bimetallism in the United States” (1885). [2ed (1888), 4ed (1898)]
Tooke and Newmarch’s “History of Prices” (1837-1856), in six volumes.
[Vol. 1, 1838; Vol. 2, 1838; Vol. 3, 1840; Vol. 4, 1848; Vol. 5, 1857; Vol. 6, 1857]
M. Block’s “Traité théorique et pratique de statistique” (1878). [2e, 1886]
Leroy-Beaulieu’s “Traité de la science des finances” (1883) [5ed (1891/2), Vol. 1, Vol. 2]. This is an extended work, in two volumes, on taxation and finance; “Essai sur la répartition des richesses ” (second edition, 1883).
F. A. Walker’s “The Wages Question ” (1876); “Money” (1878).
M. Louis Reybaud’s “Études sur les réformateurs, ou socialistes modernes ” (seventh edition, 1864). [Vol. 1; Vol. 2]
Rae’s “Contemporary Socialism” (1884) gives a compendious statement of the tenets of modern socialists. See, also, R. T. Ely’s “French and German Socialism” (1883).
D. A. Wells’s “Our Merchant Marine.” [1890]
Dictionaries.
McCulloch’s “Commercial Dictionary ” (new and enlarged edition, 1882).
[Published 1880 by Longmans in London, edited by Hugh G. Reid.]
Lalor’s “Cyclopaedia of Political Science” (1881-1884) is devoted to articles on political science, political economy, and American history. [Vol. 1 (Abdication—Duty), 1883; Vol. 2 (East India Company—Nullification), 1883; Vol. 3 (Oath—Zollverein), 1890]
Coquelin and Guillaumin’s “Dictionnaire de l’économie politique ” (1851-1853, third edition, 1864), in two large volumes. [Vol. 1 (1864); Vol. 2 (1864)]
Reports and Statistics.
The “Compendiums of the Census” for 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870, are desirable. The volumes of the tenth census (1880) are of great value for all questions; as is also F. A. Walker’s “Statistical Atlas ” (1874); and Scribner’s ” Statistical Atlas of the United States,” based on the census of 1880.
The United States Bureau of Statistics issues quarterly statements; and annually a report on “Commerce and Navigation,” and another on the “Internal Commerce of the United States.” [e.g. 1877 report]
The “Statistical Abstract” is an annual publication, by the same department, compact and useful. It dates only from 1878.
The Director of the Mint issues an annual report dealing with the precious metals and the circulation. Its tables are important.
The Comptroller of the Currency (especially during the administration of J. J. Knox) has given important annual reports upon the banking systems of the United States.
The reports of the Secretary of the Treasury deal with the general finances of the United States. These, with the two last mentioned, are bound together in the volume of “Finance Reports,” but often shorn of their tables.
There are valuable special reports to Congress of commissioners on the tariff, shipping, and other subjects, published by the Government.
The report on the “International Monetary Conference of 1878” contains a vast quantity of material on monetary questions.
The British parliamentary documents contain several annual “Statistical Abstracts” of the greatest value, of which the one relating to other European states is peculiarly convenient and useful. These can always be purchased at given prices.
A. R. Spofford’s “American Almanac” is an annual of great usefulness. [e.g. (1887)]
J. H. Hickcox, Washington, publishes a very useful catalogue of the Government publications, entitled ” United States Publications.” [Vol. 1 (1885), Vol. 2 (1886), Vol. 3 (1887)]
_______________________
Source: J. Laurence Laughlin (1887). The Elements of Political Economy with some Applications to Questions of the Day. New York: D. Appleton and Company.
An earlier version with essentially the same Teacher’s Library also found in: J. Laurence Laughlin (1885). The Study of Political Economy. Hints to Students and Teachers. New York: D. Appleton and Company.
Image Source: J. Laurence Laughlin in Plans of National Currency Reform. 78th meeting of the Sunset Club, December 6, 1894 held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago, p. 3. Found in the University of Chicago Archives, Papers of J. Laurence Laughlin, Box 1, Folder 17.