The Impact of Counter-Productive Policies on Agricultural Progress

What were the three counter-productive policies identified by Adam Smith that hindered agricultural progress?

1. Entails

2. Primogeniture

3. The feudal system

Answer:

The three counter-productive policies identified by Adam Smith that hindered agricultural progress after the fall of the Roman Empire and ongoing barbarian invasions were entails, primogeniture, and the feudal system.

After the fall of the Roman Empire and the disruptions caused by barbarian invasions, agricultural progress was impeded by several counter-productive policies as outlined by Adam Smith in Book 3, Chapter 2 of the Wealth of Nations.

1. Entails:

Entails were legal restrictions on the inheritance and sale of land, preventing landowners from dividing or selling their estates. This led to the concentration of land in the hands of a few individuals, hindering investment and innovation in agriculture.

2. Primogeniture:

Primogeniture is the practice of passing the entire estate to the eldest son, leaving younger siblings with limited or no inheritance. This practice further concentrated land ownership and wealth, limiting opportunities for agricultural advancements and investments.

3. The feudal system:

The feudal system divided society into lords and vassals, with lords providing land and protection in exchange for loyalty and service. This system created a rigid structure that deterred agricultural innovation and progress, as vassals had little incentive to improve the land they worked on.

In conclusion, Adam Smith highlighted how entails, primogeniture, and the feudal system were detrimental to agricultural progress, preventing investment, innovation, and the overall development of the agricultural sector during that period.