ABSTRACT
The American Economic Association’s 23rd annual meeting, held in December 1910, celebrated the centenary of Ricardo’s debut as an economist. There Jacob H. Hollander read his paper, 1 contrasting the 100th anniversary of Ricardo with that of Adam Smith:
On May 31, 1876, the one hundredth anniversary of the Wealth of Nations was celebrated in London under most distinguished auspices. A brilliant company of publicists and scholars gathered at the invitation of the historic Political Economy Club; the Prime Minister of Great Britain occupied the chair; the French Minister of Finance was the guest of honor.
[…] A generation has passed, and again the devotees of economic science are face to face with a centenary anniversary. In January, 1810, one hundred years ago appeared the High Price of Bullion.
[…] Obviously, these two occasions are different in kind. The one is the tribute to a book; the other to an influence.
[…] [A]lthough Ricardo’s entry into economic science is marked by no epoch-making contribution, his influence upon that science has been great and determining. It is appropriate to the nature and extent of that influence that the centenary anniversary of his début should be marked by some sober appreciation.
(Hollander 1911: 71–2; italics original)