This set focuses on the aftermath of the Napoleonic War, when the United Kingdom was rocked by a succession of economic crises. It includes articles by J.R. McCulloch, Sydney Smith and Robert Southey. Themes addressed include:
* the response to Ricardo and the development of Ricardian economics
* the conduct of colonial policy with special reference to the East India Company
* the poor laws
* banking and currency questions
* continuing discussion of Malthus on population.
The articles are supplemented by extensive explanatory notes, and an introduction placing the articles in their historical context.