ABSTRACT
The classical tradition achieved its peak development with the work of David Ricardo. It is remarkable that a person of his background should have made such a distinguished contribution to economics since he was destined as a youth to a business, rather than a scholarly, career. His father, a native of Holland, of the Jewish faith, settled in England and eventually became a member of the Stock Exchange. Young David was already in his father’s employ at the age of 14, and it was fully expected that this would be his lifework. Indeed, he amassed a fortune in the exchange at such an early age that he had ample time to devote himself to such studies as took his fancy. This was accomplished largely on his own resources, for his marriage to a Quaker and subsequent conversion to Christianity estranged him from his father.
