"Economic Development and Social Change examines the influence that has been exerted by both pre-classical and classical thought on modern-day development economics. It provides a synthetic analysis of the classical vision of growth and development from the Mercantilist era to Physiocracy, before examining Adam Smith's contribution to growth theory. The book then goes on to explore Marxian thinking and ideas, and the political developments that gave rise to state functions in post-war theory."--Jacket.