Essays on Political Economy

In this clear‑spoken treatise the author turns a familiar controversy—whether profit earned from money is a natural right or an unjust usury—into a vivid, everyday discussion. Using a simple example of a tool lent for a week, he shows how interest can arise without any mystery, while also exposing the way modern critics have turned the issue into a political slogan. His goal is to move beyond trite sayings and make the case that capital’s productivity deserves a rational, lawful explanation.

The essay engages directly with the pamphlets and journals of 19th‑century socialists who denounce interest as the source of poverty. By examining the logic behind their attacks and contrasting it with concrete economic reasoning, the work invites listeners to reconsider a principle that underpins modern markets. It offers a thoughtful, historically grounded argument that remains surprisingly relevant to today’s debates over lending, investment, and the role of capital in society.